Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute - Breezes Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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8 D. M. C. I. BREEZES Principal’s Message VALUE the privilege afforded through the courtesy of the editor- in-chief of the “Breezes” to express my sincere ap¬ preciation of the splendid service which has been rendered by the members of the 1931 classes. I need not occupy time or space in giving a detailed ac¬ count of the noteworthy events of this year, for they are prominently and properly recorded in the succeeding pages. My thanks are tendered to all who have contributed in any degree to the suc¬ cess which has been achieved in the various departments and activi¬ ties of the school. An excellent Students’ Council has done effective work through its well-organized committees. The de¬ bating contests were meritorious; the athletic activities were conducted in an admirable spirit; the social events were of an exceptionally high order; the opera surpassed the fine perform¬ ances of previous years; in the Musical Festival our two choirs sang as if inspired, drawing the highest commendation of the adjudicators, who also expressed themselves as greatly pleased by the work of our orchestra. The real aim in all our school work has been to turn out boys and girls, upright in character, sound in judgment, keen to learn and eager to serve. I therefore earnestly hope that each of our graduates may leave our halls with the power to think clearly, with the love of learning for its own sake, with the determination to play fair and demand fair play from others, with an appreciation of beauty in nature, in art, in music, in literature, with a conviction that coarseness and vulgarity in amusement is as undesirable as unclean and tainted food. Above all may each be assured that the solution for all the complex and vexing problems with which the world is confronted is found by applying the simple formula given by the Master-Teacher, “Love one another.” A. C. CAMPBELL.

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D.M.C. I. BREEZES 7 B.C., removed two of the outstanding teachers of the Collegiate in the early nineties. Mr. Schofield was Principal from 1890-1910. A FLAG FOR CANADA To the Editor: During the past few years there has been sweeping over Canada a de¬ sire for a national flag, a flag which will be distinctly Canadian and which will show that Canada is no longer a colony but a great nation. In some respects people may be right in desiring such a change, but let us think for a few minutes of our present flag, the Union Jack and of its meaning to us as Canadians. As all Britishers know, the Union Jack is composed of the flags of three coun¬ tries, which three, since their union, have held dominion over the world. This flag waves in practically every corner of the earth and whenever we see it we know that there exists a country in which freedom is the pass¬ word and, where we will find a people, happy, prosperous and contented. Such a country has been Canada during the past two centuries. Then, suddenly, from nowhere, arises a group of men who suggest that we remove this flag and replace it by some other; something new and dis¬ tinctive as they term it. What would the other nations think of such a change? “Oh!” they would say, “there is a country, discontented with its lot, unwilling to live under the most re¬ nowned flag in the world and, anxious to break away from its mother coun¬ try.” Loyal Britishers will immedi¬ ately protest that this is not their intention in the least, that the ties binding them to, their motherland will be just as strong as ever. But do circumstances point that way? Men are apparently beginning to feel ashamed of the red, white and blue, ashamed of the flag under which mil¬ lions of our men have fought and died, a flag for which men have sacri¬ ficed everything they possessed to save it from dishonor! If such a flag was good enough for men to suffer and die under in the filth and mire of Flanders, then it is good enough for any man on earth! These flag-hunters claim they are working under a feeling of patriotism toward their country. What patriot¬ ism can equal that of a man willing to lay down his life for his country? Yet this flag was good enough for them! You, fellow school-mates, are going out from our school to be the citizens of this country. It will be your re¬ sponsibility as the rising generation, to decide this question once and fo,r all. Thus I leave it to your sense of honor as to whether or not we want to replace the Union Jack, the flag of freedom and of our forefathers. LLOYD THOMSON, R. 18.

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D. M.C. I. BREEZES 9 From “The Historical Diary of Winnipeg ’’ “COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN” October 8, 1877. An extra was issued by the “Mani¬ toba Free Press” on this day consist¬ ing of the following interesting notice: “THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE IN THE NORTHWEST. TO ARRIVE THIS AFTERNOON! CELE¬ BRATION OF EVENT! “Intelligence has just been received that the first locomotive and tender, with a caboose and six flat cars, which are being brought down from the Pem¬ bina branch by Mr. Joseph Whitehead, will arrive here this afternoon about 4 o’clock by the steamer ‘Selkirk’. “Notwithstanding the short notice, we understand that a fitting reception will be tendered, and the mayor and corporation will, it is understood, take the necessary steps for the proper recognition of this important event in the history of the northwest. “The same will probably stop at No. 6 warehouse, foot of Post Office Street. “Let there be a grand rally of citiz¬ ens on the occasion.” October 9, 1877. “A series of wild, unearthly shrieks from the river at an early hour an¬ nounced the approach of the stern¬ wheeler ‘Selkirk,’ having barges at¬ tached in front and at the sides, on which were mounted the locomotive, six flat cars and a van. The voyage downstream constituted one continu¬ ous triumphal progress from the in¬ ternational boundary to Winnipeg, the settlers in the Red River Valley ex¬ pressing the greatest excitement and most intense enthusiasm. The engine was kept under steam, so that her whistle might herald the approach of the ‘iron horse’ to all within hearing. On passing Fort Pembina, the flotilla received a salute from the guns of the U.S. artillery, and upon arrival at the town was met by the commanding cap¬ tain of the fort, together with his officers and authorities at the customs, not omitting the population ‘en masse.’ “About 9 a.m. the next morning the ‘Selkirk’ with her novel freight, passed the mouth of the Assiniboine and as she swept by the infant city of Win¬ nipeg, mill whistles were furiously blown and bells were rung to welcome the first locomoti ve, destined to be the means of creating a new era in travel through the great Northwest. The ‘Selkirk’ displayed handsome decora¬ tions in honor of the event, with Union Jacks, Stars and Stripes, and. banners; the leading barge was also included in the embellishment of the flotilla, being adorned with flags and evergreen. “The whistles of the steamer and locomotive continued in full commis¬ sion, with those of the mills joining in chorus, the bells calling merrily. It formed a remarkable coincidence that Joseph Whitehead, the contractor on the Pacific Railway, who was in charge of the locomotive on this in¬ teresting trip, acted as foreman on the engine that drew the first train