Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Uhr gllngal Hiatt The Royal Visit was eagerly anticipated at Balmoral Hall. A competition in the Senior School for the best letter of greeting to the Royal Couple was won by Dawna Duncan, Grade IX, a boarder from Norquay, Saskatchewan. We obtained permission from Ottawa to send this letter to Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth. It was written by hand on special note-paper bearing the School crest in gold. Imagine the excitement of everyone later on, when a letter was received at the School bearing the post mark of the Royal Train. Our letter had really been received and we are proud to have a most gracious reply, part of which reads as follows: The Princess was so interested to hear about the history of your school and that it has celebrated its first anniversary this year. Her Royal Highness sends her best wishes for many more successful years. A full day's holiday was given in honour of the royal visit. The boarders saw the Princess twice on the city tours, and again at the Command Performance of the Ballet in the evening. 'K Balmoral Hall, October 1951 Your Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth: The Staff and pupils of Balmoral Hall are pleased and greatly honoured to welcome you and the Duke of Edinburgh to Winnipeg. Our city, often called the Gateway to the West, will give you your first glimpse of the prairie with its broad expanse of golden wheat fields and undulating plains. Together with all Canadians who have long awaited this visit, we greet you and hope that you will like our country. We all realize that your programme is Hlled to capacity and that you may not have time to see our school although we are not far from Government House. We are so near to you that from our playing fields, which at this time are aglow with the many- hued colours of Autumn, we are able to catch a glimpse of the golden boy on the dome of the Parliament Buildings. It is a great privilege on our first anniversary to send this greeting to you. Last year our school, opening its gates for the first time, was given the name Balmoral Hall. It was named this in honour of the royal residence, Balmoral Castle. Balmoral Hall, just as the castle, is situated on a river. The river is the meandering Assiniboine whose sloping banks and old trees add a gentle beauty to our grounds. Also in keeping with our Scottish title are our House names - names possibly familiar to your Royal Highness: Braemar House, after the Aberdeenshire town, Ballater after the village, Craig Gowan after the rocky hill, and Glen Gairn after the valley. On our grey tunics we wear our School crest signifying wisdom and power. The motto in the crest is Meliora Petens-Seeking Better Things. This is Balmoral Hall's main purpose for better things are sought in our studies, in our games and in all our activities. It may interest you to know that last year our Head Mistress wrote to Buckingham Palace for permission to use the Balmoral tartan for our school ties. The reply explained that the Balmoral tartan is used exclusively by the Royal Family and we could appreciate this. However, in this letter of explanation His Majesty sent greetings to us and we were delighted to receive such an honour. We were deeply grieved by His Majes'ty's recent illness and we pray for his speedy recovery. Again, welcome to Canada, welcome to Manitoba, welcome to Winnipeg and may you enjoy the remainder of your visit and so carry back to England happy memories of this great country of ours. Yours sincerely, Balmoral Hall

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as Wk, BACK ROW-Daphne Hanson, Shelagh Donegani, Ann Carroll, Joan Davidson, Nora Anne Richards, Martha Travers, Pat Riley, Ina Huehn, Honor Bonnycastle, Pat Benham, Jane Park. FRONT ROW-Carla Gustafson, Judy Carr, Joan Malaher, Jane Gladstone, Judy Patton, Joan Sheppard, Joey Adamson, Ada Rice. Magazine Executive, 1951-52 Chief Edifor ....... ..... ...,............,.,,..,.....,...................... J a ne Gladstone Liferary Ediftory ...... ...,.. C arla Gustafson, judy Patton, joan Sheppard Exvbfznge Edifor ...... ..,...................... ...,,,.,..,...,.......,....... L 0 rna Craig Spam' Edilorr ..,., .... j oey Adamson, Ann jennings, Diana Nanton Art Sfzperzfirorr ,............ ......,..,.,............... I na Huehn, Daphne Hanson Pbologrfzpby Szfpewjror ,,,.. ....................... J oan Malaher Adzferlififzg Mnfzngery ...., ....,............. J udy Carr, Ada Rice Bfzrifzerf Mfzmzgerr .,,,, ....... ......... . . .... J ane Park, Betty May Townsend Magazine Committee Patricia Riley Pat Benham Shelagh Donegani Ann Carroll Glen Murray joan Davidson Nora Anne Richards Martha Travers Honor Bonnycasrle

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IO DENTISTS I am sure that I will not meet with a great deal of opposition when I say that a dentist is not a popular man. Yet in the summing up, it is seen that a dentist must have most of the merits which men long to possess. For what man must be so meticulously groomed, so gentle, so cautious, --and above all so patient-as a dentist? Why then, if most dentists-QI won't say allj-possess these characteristics, do we, at their mention, instinctively feel a strong desire to grab our hats and high-tail it for the South Pacific? I think in recalling one's first visit to the dentist's office, the question could be partially answered. All is pleasant in the comfortably furnished waiting room, but when that figure clad in spotless white, summons you into the dentist's office-oh, then comes the shock. Not even the bland smile of the dentist can remove your lixed gaze from that hideous, spidery para- phernalia of wires, screws and other mysterious nxtures,-poised like a panther over the chair. When one obeys the order to sit in the chair, it seems utter suicide. The dentist then draws up a stool and perches on it. Using all his knowledge of psychology, he attempts to draw your mind away from your present situation, by trying to discuss the weather, school, and other well- exhaus-ted subjects. But he tries in vain, for how could you possibly forget the state of affairs with a long needle picking, sawing, and hewing at your teeth. After going through this procedure, the dentist has persuaded 'himself that he has found a cavity. Such cavities are produced with great rapidity and it is no wonder, for what better living could one earn than by discovering cavities at two dollars each? I also have reason to believe that dentists make part of their living by charging for, appointments missed. Although doctors are said to do the same thing, I fail to see 'them in the same light. Per- haps it is because my grandfather was a member of this noble profession, and the severest case he ever had to remedy for me was a head cold. He wrote out the prescription and I, with great importance, read what it ordered. One large apple. If nose gives trouble during the night, sing first and third verses of 'Ho, Boys, Here we are againf This prescription was a remark- able success. If a dentist advised me to brush my teeth once more each day, or to eat a large crust of stale brown bread, chewing on each side of my mouth twenty-five times, I would be far more likely to follow his directions, than if he recommended the newest brand of decay-prevent- ing toothpaste. Unless the dentist changes during the next half century, I think the bravest of mankind will continue to falter outside his office. I have been told that even a man such as Winston Churchill, who faced Hitler during the war with courage and confidence, thinks of the dentist with dismay and dread. If a man such as he is unable to bear the dentist, what hope is there for you and me? Cathy Young, Grade XI. BOARDERS' MOVIES We have been indebted this year to Mr. Vaughan who has often supplied us with films on a Friday night. These movies have made our weekends much more enjoyable than they would otherwise have been. One Friday evening, teachers, prefects, day students and boarders gathered in the drawing- room to see a Christmas movie- The Miracle on 34th Street. On another Friday evening, the drawing-room was crowded with girls who wanted to see again Great Expectationsn and still later in the term we saw The Bells of St. Mary's. It is fortunate that we have our own projector at Balmoral Hall. We take this opportunity to thank all those people who have contributed to the success of these Friday evenings. Nancy Ann Green, Grade IX. . .. YOUNG CANADA'S BOOK WEEK The week from November 11th to the 18th was observed throughout all Canada as Young Canadals Book Week. Dr. Margaret McWilliams of Government House was the patroness of the Book Week. In an article for the Canadian Library Bulletin she wrote: In the pursuit of knowledge, or of new experiences, there is no substitute for books. In Winnipeg, there were attractive posters and book displays in the public libraries. In Balmoral Hall there was a poster in the school library. Lists were placed in each classroom-one for students to indicate some book read with enjoyment since September, 1951, and a second s'heet on which to place suggestions for books for the school library. During Book Week we discussed books in our English classes, and considered the use that can be made of libraries and especially of our school library. Jane Gladstone, Grade XI.