Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School - Hello Yearbook (Brantford, Ontario Canada)

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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS Mr. Chairman, Honoured Guests, Fellow Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen: Tonight you have seen the Class of 1960 receive their graduation certificates from B. C. L V. S. Our class is now officially disbanded, and we are free to pursue our separate careers in a wide variety of fields and in a wide variety of locations, How- ever, no matter what we do or where we are, our lives will have certain fundamental elements in common. We are all entering a life which can be broken down into four basic divisions: time spent on required work, time spent on the little extra work one must do to get ahead, time spent in constructive recreation, and time spent in utter relaxation. These elements are part of anyone ' s life, whether at school, or at work. At school, whether university, trade school, nurs- ing school, or any other, the student must learn a certain minimum to pass. But if he wants to do something more than just pass, he must do a little more. He should take part in sports, some social group, or similar activity. He should also have some measure of complete relaxation each week. If he apportions his time well, then he should graduate a successful student. At work the same classification applies, and determines whether or not the employee will be a success in his particular field. But the apportioning of time does not come natur- ally. We must be taught how to lead a successful life. This is the role of our secondary school. We entered B. C. L V. S. having little academic know- ledge, and little knowledge of life. At Brant Avenue, we added considerably to our academic knowledge, but more important, we learned a great deal about living. We were given a plan for life, a method whereby we could do the most good for ourselves, and for the rest of the world. We shall not be able to appreciate fully the education we received at B. C. L V. S. until we have been gone from it for many years, and look back to see our high school career in its proper per- spective with a know ledge of how it affected us in later life. But we have had a small taste of life now, and we have been given this opportunity to look back at our Collegiate years with a slightly more realistic outlook. Let us see as best w e can how our school prepared us for what was ahead. First, we were taught the value of work. The staff at Brant Avenue is one of the best in Ontario, as our Upper School results show. Tennyson was quite right: can we honestly say that there is no part of us put there by our association with the members of our staff, both Technical and Academic? Surely our sense of drama was affected by our very own playwright; we will never really forget those Latin poems; and what about the binomial theorem, French pronunciation, V = U + at, and the date of Confederation? The staff surely has achieved its purpose. It is a little more difficult to account for our willingness to do a little extra. Could it be that the teachers inspired us to work harder? Could it be that the high standards forced us to work harder? Whatever the reason, the extra work was done, and the results prove that fact. The recreation programme was ample and well controlled. The sports activities would have been much more successful if there had been more parti- cipation and more support by the student body. I understand that this condition has been corrected this year. But the Red Cross, the Glee Club, the Drama Club, and many other student activities ' were popular and successful. The regulation about non- participation in sports if two exams were failed was usually sufficient to keep the recreation from be- coming an occupation. Thus, the constructive recre- ation was woven into our pattern of life. Of course, at B.C.I. V. S. there were also op- portunities for relaxation. The dances and social functions were good, and the enthusiasm, although not overwhelming, was sufficient. The facilities for social functions probably had a great deal to do with the lack of enthusiasm. But you must admit that even if the Girls ' gym is not large, at least it is cozy. It seems to me unfortunate that one of the most important and memorable functions in our high school life could not be held in our own school. However, we were provided with relaxation, and the limits imposed by the facilities and the staff kept us from overindulging. We have been given am excellent blueprint for life at Brant Avenue. It is one of the best available. If we follow it, we can achieve our absolute maxi- mum, and no less should be good enough for a graduate of the B. C. I. V. S. So let us take the training we have received, and follow the blueprint, and do justice to our school. — David demons BEST WISHES • focfes SHOES Call PL 3-2360 BOYCE ' S School - Home - Office Supplies YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES CENTER I 14 Colborne Street Bran+ford, Ont. Page 35

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We have, right in our city, a potentially fine natural park. A drive to clear the Grand River of pollution has been going on for some time, and the near future will see this objective achieved. There are several locations along the Grand suitable for park development. Flood control and a very few simple improvements such as picnic areas and boat ramps would change swampy wasteland into public gardens and recreation areas. Of course, the city would be responsible, through its agencies, for the maintenance and administration of such areas, but would the result not be worth the effort? Perhaps various municipalities along the Grand could work together in a move to make improvements to the watercourse. The Grand Valley Conservation Author- ity would certainly appreciate more co-operation from the communities along the river, and such co-opera- tion would be a benefit to all concerned. Instead of Brantfordites streaming to Lake Erie every summer week-end for boating and picnicking, they could enjoy the same pleasures close to home. There is another occasion on which our citizens mass-migrate to different centres. At fall-fair time, the exhibitions of products and crops organized by the surrounding towns and villages are enthusiastic- ally attended by Brantfordites. Brantford seems to be the natural location for an annual exhibition, for it is situated at Ontario ' s agricultural and industrial hub. Our city is forfeiting an opportunity to show area leadership by not having an exhibition of its own. A local fair would immediately draw support from our merchants, manufacturers, farmers and residents and would win friends for our city through- out the province. We are fortunate to have a local newspaper and radio station which show lively interest in community affairs. The radio station broadcasts city covmcil meetings, and the newspaper prints a column record- ing council happenings. It, at one time, featured a weekly series in which the msin on the street was asked for his opinion on local issues. More should be done on these same lines to create community interest. People should be more anxious than they are to know what their city is doing for them and what they should be doing for their city. Herein lies the key to improving Brantford. Civic awareness, followed by civic pride, must be encouraged. When we have an interested, eager group of citizens working together to build a better community, we have made the greatest initial im- provement possible. All others will follow close behind. COMPTE RENDU A poem directed to the graduating class — who are about to leave the corridors and class rooms of the B. C. I. — their educational home for the past few years. Of heroes and of arms I do not sing. My theme instead a far more glorious thing — How modern heroes though they know not Troy, Battled the elements that would destroy; And how by Juno ' s unrelenting wrath They oft were driven from the narrow path. Yet steadfast sailed toward that distant goal Of wisdom, understanding, and control The passage of the years must leave some trace Of mind and manner, figure, form, and face, And adolescent years appear to be The period when the greatest change we see; These halls first saw you, questioning, immature. Wide-eyed, uncertain, wondering, and unsure. How soon you changed — parading down the hall As though you owned the building, roof and all! With each succeeding year you come to know, Returning to these halls, a warmer glow Within your hearts, as friendships were renewed And life ' s ambitions steadily pursued. Pride in accomplishment was intertw ined. With new respect and reverence for the mind. Now, with eyes fixed on fields yet unsurveyed, You leave these halls, assured and unafraid. But what of those whose efforts year by year Provided stepping stones for your career. Who watched and w orried over those who fell And burst with pride when others did so well? Can you, with justice, overlook their aid And boast Observe the paragon I have made! Can base ingratitude, like darkest night Delude your reason and obscure your sight? It matters not how great the debt — or small; A smile and grateful Thank you cancels all. — H. D. Waghome Compliments of Compliments of BEAUVIEW MOTEL BELINDA FASHION SHOES 950 Colborne Street Dial 752-2151 128 Colborne Street Dial PL 6-6043 Brantford, Ontario Brantford, Ontario Page 34

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THE WRECKER Lying desolate in ruin, What once stood proud and tall, Just bricks and dust are there now Where that mighty house did fall. Sounds of children ' s voices Were drowned out by the wrecker. Oh, so long ago. Families growing, both young and old, Lived there for many years, Sharing joys and sorrows. Laughs, and even tears. It stood against the mighty wind; It fought against the storm; It shed the rain and blocked the cold, With its solid form. All the works of nature Tried to crash it down; Yet it stood, and always stayed Very safe and sound. But progress demands more room to build, More room to expand and grow. So alas that house was in the way, It simply had to go. Man came in with large machines, And beat it to the ground; So now where the structure stood so proud A highway can be found! Claire Hoy HOOD DOG Life seemed drab and dull to me; A dog, yes a dog, I would rather be. My wish came true before my eyes — I became a mongrel in disguise. But I hadn ' t thought and I hadn ' t bartered To just be a stray, and this really smarted. Nobody claimed me or bought me a tag, Though I grovelled along and my tail did wag. All right by me if you want it this way! I ' ll be a hound-dog now, ' til my dying day. I licked down my f ur in a duck-tail style, And made side-bums to look real vile. A mean tom-cat was my victim first; Scoring by points, I came out the worst. Fights weren ' t for me by the look of my face; Perhaps I ' d do better in a hot drag race. I chased a Chev. and it really could go; By the end of the race I had lost my toe. Bittered and battered, there was one thing left — Now I should try my paw at theft. I gnawed at a hub-cap, and it gave with a bang; While pulling the job I fractured a fang. Gallantly I figured that I should share With the poodle beside me which had stopped to stare. She grabbed my hub-cap and began to scofi; She had teeth like a switch-blade, so I took off. Life seemed risky, and rough right then; Oh, how I wished to be myself again! Terry Taylor. IT ' S FUN TO SEW SAVE WITH FABRIC FROM FABRIC FAIR Fashion By The Yard 126 DALHOUSIE ST. (Opp. Market) DIAL PL 3-6141 THE HARRIET SHOP Pantino Sets - Co-Ordinates - Blouses 43 MARKET STREET DIAL 752-0942 Page 3G