Grantham High School - Olympian Yearbook (St Catharines, Ontario Canada)

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A Trip To Remember Pat Linton, 12A After many days of anticipation, Tour 63 to Yellowknife, North West Territories, left St. Catharines by train on July 19th. In Toronto we added the last few students to our group, changed trains and settled down to enjoy our long awaited journey. We spent two days on the train. We had a coach all to ourselves and everyone came to know each other quite well. This was to be expected with twenty-four teenage girls and boys. During our ride by rail through Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we passed through such places as Nakina, Homepayne, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and finally ended the first leg of our journey in Edmonton, Alberta on July 21st. We spent the afternoon in Edmonton, taking in the sites. Edmonton is truly a beautiful city! Everyone was up early the next morning for our departure by Pacific Western Airlines. For many, as well as myself, it was our first flight. What an experience! It ' s the only way to go. (fly . . . that is). We stopped in Fort Smith to change planes and were soon on our way to Yellowknife. In approximately two hours, after watch- ing the barren lands pass below, we landed in the very modern airport of Yellowknife. Much to our surprise the sun was shining brightly and the temperature was a warm 75 . We were hustled from the airport to Sir John Franklin School where we were billeted to various families of the area. It took us very little time to become acquainted with the youth of Yellowknife. A party was arranged for the night of our arrival. The young people were as keenly interested in us as we were in them. Contrary to common belief, there are few Eskimos in Yellowknife. We saw only one Eskimo family during our entire stay. Most of the population is white, Indian or half-breed, with the white population in majority. Another thing that amazed us was that it never got dark. At night the sky was a beautiful reddish- orange, like a sunset and the sun hid just below the horizon. Every minute of our four days in Yellowknife was filled with activity. We toured Yellowknife by air, attended a banquet and dance, went boating at Prelude Point and spent a lazy afternoon on beautiful Mac Niven Beach. While visiting the Con Gold Mine we were disappointed to hear that just a few days before they had poured gold bricks, a process that is done only once a month. We were also surprised to learn that women are not allowed to go below ground in the mine because of an Indian superstition. One of the highlights of our stay was our visit to Fort Rae, an Indian settlement about 57 miles north-west of Yellowknife. Here we had a peek into the lives of the Dogrib Indians. We attended an Indian feast and joined the tribe in some of its cere- monial dances. On July 26th. after a sad farewell to all the people we had met and a promise to return some day, we boarded our plane and flew to Fort Smith, the capital of the North West Territories. After a banquet we were billeted and given our schedule of activities. We visited Wood Buffalo Park, the largest game reserve in Canada. Here we took part in a buffalo hunt, visited a snake pit, and after a refreshing swim, we were served a buffalo-burger luncheon, which we found to be delicious. During our last day in Fort Smith, we visited Fort Fitzgerald and Bell Rock and viewed the beautiful Mountain Portage on the Slave River.

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THE COW Stephanie Swift, 13B The velvet ear and flank, the swishing tail, (Like the silk tassel on a rich man ' s dressing-gown) The eyes of glowing brown behind the veil Of still, unhurried calmness and content— What cow was ever rash? Happy is she to stay and chew the grass About her, in her meadow lush and wide. Instead of leaping to the greener ' side. HAPPINESS IS Lynda Crombie lOD Happiness is like a cradling cloud, surrounding its counterpart (the person) with an atmosphere of secureness and an infallible attitude of being at peace with all. It is sweet, soothing music, filling the listener ' s ear with contentment and peace. Happiness is a child ' s carefree giggle, a sunny day or a friend ' s cheerful smile. Happiness may mean different things to different people. Some might associate happiness with wealth and well-being. To others, happiness is a quiet walk in an autumn woods or through a field of fresh mown grass. To most teenagers, happi- ness is good rock ' n roll music, friends, and a coke. Our feelings differ with our personalities but the abjecture of total happiness has one and only one meaning. Happiness finds its way into the heart, soul, and marrow of all types of people: rich, poor, good, bad, black, white, old or young. It presents itself in the kind of person that is ready to take a joke as well as to hand one out. It is found in people who realize life is short and the time for happiness is now, while you can still be a carrier of such a contagious disease. Once it has caught on, it brightens your darkness and lightens your load. Soon, it becomes cronic, and it spreads to those around you. Oh, if it would pry its way into the hearts of the world; if suddenly, the whole world would burst into joy like a fire cracker, but alas, there is too strong a draught, extinguishing the flame on the fuse. It is possible to ward off this draught and to make an optimistic situation out of every occurrence. Happiness is not taken as a pill. It must take root and grow. It is found only by those who desire it; only by those who will not keep it for a short time and then trade it in for a scowl. It may be found by a person who is withdrawn; though, bringing happiness to himself, he doesn ' t do much about spreading it. To find happiness, you require an open mind and a refreshing sense of humor. You have to be able to pick out the happy or funny side to an occasion. Sorrow is needed only when happiness recedes for a brief moment and it is during this sorrowful moment that we realize what happiness is. What is happiness? Is it loud or soft? Is it only for the young, or does it also include the young at heart? Happin ess is colourless, yet colourful, loud as a parade or soft as the falling dew. It is free, yet too few people take advantage of it and fewer still know what to do when it when they have it. If happiness is hard to secure, why should we give it to others? In giving happiness, you make someone else happy. This in turn gives you satisfaction and you make a profit. Happiness is not concrete, so why buy it. Why not grow your own and give it away. This is happiness.

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On July 28th we said good-bye to the North West Territories and flew to Edmonton. Our last night in Edmonton was a memorable one and we wished we could ' ve stayed longer, but as scheduled we boarded our train at 2:30 p.m. on July 29th. Our trip home was riotous. Everyone was acquainted with train routine and it seemed that every teenager on the entire train found relaxation and fun in our car. As we neared Toronto on July 31st, we were filled with mixed emotions. After saying good- bye to the few who left us at Toronto we changed trains with the realization that we were almost home. From Toronto to St. Catharines there was little discussion except to guess as to how St. Catharines was doing in the Henley Regatta. We arrived in St. Catharines at 4:30 p.m. and were met by a group of anxious parents and friends. In the chaos, few of us had a chance to say good-bye or to thank our chaperones, Mr. Mrs. F. Harvie. Thus ended Tour 63 to Yellowknife, North West Territories. We had travelled over 5,000 miles and had seen places and things many of us will never see again. It was a trip that I shall long remember! LIFE Gail White, 9E The troubles that are everywhere Form waves upon the ocean And all living beings stem from there The sea of all creation. Like a cork we bob upon it Drenched by the waves of time And no poem, verse, nor sonnet Can describe it with a rhyme. For the twisting course we navigate Is like a drunken trail And the storms that rise and then abate Are the sins that fill our sail. This lake of luck, that sea of strife A mighty river of wrath All streams of brimming, vibrant life Combine to form our path.