Collingwood District Collegiate Institute - Gleaner Yearbook (Collingwood, Ontario Canada)

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had the fortitude to make their home here, but we appreciate and are thankful that their optimism and faith in the future of this area made our opportunity possible. Pioneering today is less rugged than it was for our forefathers, but it is equally important, demanding and necessary. There is much to be accomplished in any field of endeavour in which we as graduates find ourselves. Let us always remember as we do our work that it is character and service that counts and these are in the realm of ideas and relationships. As a group we must remember this, for unfortunately life today is such that a man finds himself dealing more with things which require to be manipulated rather than with ideas and persons. We are all blind until we see That in the human plan Nothing is worth the making if It does not make the man. why build these cities glorious If man unbuilded goes. In vain, we build the work, Unless the builder also grows. VALEDICTOHY Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Staff, fellow classmatesg as valedictorian of the class graduating from grade twelve this year I feel both honour and plea- sure ln expressing to you the feelings of those who have climbed together up the steep hill of education and who are now nearing the top. I speak not only for those in grade twelve, but for the whole student body because we all will be leaving Creemore Continuation School together. we are leaving behind not just a school. we are leaving our own coat hanger, the fountain in the corner where so many friendships grew, the muddy ball diamond, the tail-less skeleton of the cat, and the dairy up on the hill from which so many hundreds of eyes have sought inspiration. As we look back down the path which we have just climbed, we remember how a few short years ago we entered a strange room, chose a strange seat and then sneaked shy glances at the twenty-nine others to predict their future. we recall also the severe case of butterflies in the stomach before the first field day, the thrill when that certain boy asked to be taught to dance, then the dismal feel- ing of failure after a difficult test, and those conversations held over the radiators in the middle of the winter. We will remember those things because we are sentimental, but we will not for- get the lessons in living either. We developed a spirit of co-operation when we staged concerts and when we made oxygen in the science room. we learned self-control when we finished that very last page of homeworkg we felt and ex- pressed emotional beauty ln music and in literature and those arguements we had in grade nine geographg class most certainly must have developed something. Above all, we experience true happiness and contentment in the fellowship of our classmates. These are our friends. All our life we will be encountering other people. The most valuable mortal possession is a friend. we have been guided down the first few miles of the stream of life and have been taught by the sailors how to manage the boat. Now we must navigate our own vessel, be it a noisy motor boat, or a beautiful yacht, or a trusty row boat. At first we will be shaky and uncertain but before we have gone far we too will be staunch and weather-beaten sailors. Lest we be smashed against the rocks we must avoid the rapids, and unless we are careful we might take the wrong branch and end in a stagnant pool. We must keep to the centre where the current is smooth, even though we pass betwee high pressing banks: but we must always look forward to the sunny section arc- und the next bend, Now we are about to turn another bend. We do not know what will happen or what is there, but we know that we have been prepared to face this future, whatever it may be, and we know that our days at Creemore Continuation School will for- ever be re-echoing to us from the shores of our memories. Helen Emmett XII

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....,-.......-...,v-vs,-fv-v-v-..,--.yvvvwxfvw - 5 1953 c.o.c.l. valedimry Address Given By John Thomson It is with sincere appreciation of the honour which the students have bestowed upon me that I speak this word of farewell on behalf of the 1933 graduating class of the Collingwood District Collegiate Institute. For a number of years we have studied our particular courses and gathered knowledge, but the day of graduation has arrived. Tonight we recall our high school and collegiate days and realize that we stand on the threshold of life. As freshmen we entered high school timidly, looking with awe and dismay upon the theorems of Geometry, the laws of Physics and the intricacies of French and Latin. On regaining some of our composure, we realized that while the class- room, with new subjects, was somewhat bewildering, this was offset by our enjoy- ment of sports and social activities. Homework--that is something to remember. I can not speak for all the class, especially for the girls, but somehow the boys always have something more important to do. Baseball, hockey, even girls all contributed to assignmentsnot completed. Latin, French, Geometry and Algebra all suffered. Nevertheless, all of us owe a great debt to our teachers who bore the torch of knowledge through darkened halls followed not too closely by sometimes reluctant boys and girls. As classes went by, our teachers followed the prescribed curriculum. Indif- ference and slowness of wit often kept us from learning, but by tact, persever- ence and persuasion our teachers gradually led our wayward feet to an assured tread along the path of knowledge. The heavy weight of our academic studies was lessened by our organized athletics and the meetings of the Student Council. These extra-curricular activities were instrumental in developing a school and team spirit and in building lasting friendships. And so tonight we thank our teachers, fellow students and parents for their untiring and capable efforts. We realize that much of that which we may accomp- lish is a result of their effort. There is another group to whom we are indebted, those associated with and responsible for our municipal, provincial and federal governments. It is by their efforts that our institutions and mode of life have been developed and maintained. Too often we take this effort for granted or even refer unkindly to it as in the case of the story referring to the inauguration of congress at which the bishop was asked if he was about to pray for the newly inaugurated congressmen. The bishop said, after looking over the congressmen, that it would be better to pray for the country. It would be quite unthinkable that we should spend our years of youth taking courses if there was nothing beyond graduation. Why not have a good time and ignore the years that are to come? But wisdom demands that we should have the future in mind. Graduation in one sense is a goal, but in another sense it is a door that opens into a larger life. Graduation in itself would be meaningless unless more were to follow. Thus we are now on the threshold of a widening life that is rich in its possibilities and in many ways is a fulfilment of all that has gone before. ' As graduates we have a boundless field for our endeavours and while this field is world-wide, some of our best opportunities are on our own doorstep--Can- ada. Champlain made his first voyage to Canada in l6Oh and while some time was spent exploring the Atlantic coast, he came up the St. Lawrence, establishing the set- tlement at Quebec, from which base he set out on a series of explorations, some of which extended through this part of Ontario. One hundred and twenty years ago our pioneer forefathers carried grain on their backs for days along a blazed trail to the grist mill and back to provide for the family. There has been great progress and development in many ways since the time of Champlain and of the first white settlers in this district. I am not suggesting that we as graduates can compare with the great explorers of our pioneers who

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OFF TO OUR NEW CQLLEGIATE - MARCH 29T1-14 1954 Mr. I-Laoliae speaks to last assembly in the Hume St. Collegiate . Lowering the flag at the old school. Cadet Band departing from Hmm St. Collegiate. . XX -Ms. f Q X ,x 5 ,