Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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THE VOYAGE UR 19 fair thing to look closer home and to see even within our own borders those challenges to the democratic way of life that threaten the fundamental bases on which our British and AnglofSaxon civilization have been built? Is it necessary for the preservation of our rights and liberties that private organizaf tions in our own country should be permitted to arm and to drill secretly with a view, apparently, to taking the law into their hands? Is truth so weak a thing that it must be protected by a padlock law? If we permit such activif ties as these to go on in our own country, how can we criticize others and furthermore how can we assert that we have any vital belief in democracy. In this connection, may I point out to this audience the significance of an event that took place in this community a few days ago. I refer to the opening of the new Holy Blossom Synagogue. Representative citizens of our community, including the Governor-General of this Dominion, the LieutenantfGovernor of this Province and the Mayor of this city, all co' operated inthe dedication services during the weekfend. To my mind this occasion was symbolic of some of the finest virtues of our democratic way of life. Although harassed, driven from homes and positions in many other countries of the world, the jews of this city have erected and dedicated to the service of the community one of the noblest architectural edifices that we have in our midst. We must recognize that all people within our midst, be they Jew or Gentile, French or AnglofSaxon, black or white, Protestant or Catholic, have a contribution to make to our common culture. That conf tribution, however, can only be made as long as there remains freedom within our borders. I would also mention as symbolic of the true spirit of democracy, the Canadian Youth Congress which met in Toronto this spring, representing church groups, Y.M.C.A.'s, Y.W.C.A,'s, student groups, workers' groups, farmers' groups, political groups and many others. It provided, for those who have eyes to see, a cross section of young Canada facing its own problems and trying to think them through to an intelligent solution. I do not deny that in the exercise of freedom there will be individuals who will make mistakes, but I do assert that there can be no true expression of the spirit of democracy unless that freedom, even to make mistakes, is preserved. It was at the beginning of the reign of Queen Victoria that our country was harassed by rebellion within our own borders. Few there would be to deny that William Lyon Mackenzie and many of those associated with him made mistakes but at the present minute this Province is erecting a monuf ment in Queen's Park to his memory. It must be because we recognize that in spite of mistakes he contributed something vital to the growth of the demo- cratic spirit in our own country. To my mind an understanding of democracy, not merely as a political mechanism, but as a way of life, is the most vital contribution that the British peoples have made to the development of Western culture. Although chalf lenged by powerful enemies in other countries and equally within our own borders by a variety of forces, we can show our own loyalty to the best that our Empire stands for, by refasserting in all our relationships the fundamental truth of the democratic principle.

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THE VOTAGEUR 21 STAFF IN Tl-IE NEWS fReadmg left to rightj Miss Irene McCulley, the headmaster's genial sister, has held the posif tion of dietitian during the past year and has successfully blended vitamins. good humour and skiing. Mr. Wilfred Pollard is not only one of our best skiers, but a craftsman, and instructor in shorthand and typing. Wilf. came through the senior school as a student, and is now a permanent member of the staff. The amusement or whatever it is, expressed in the picture may be due to the fact that he is to join the ranks of the married class. Mr. Harry Beer, many long years ago, was one of our very first students. During his career here he maintained a high standard of scholarship, and in his final year was awarded the Cummer Scholarship. He graduated from the University of Toronto in History, and then spent two years abroad studying French and German. He spent considerable time in departed Austria. Harry returned this year to take over the Modern Language def partment and Wednesday's duties and to bring back a line sense of humour to his alma mater. Mr. Taylor Statten, director of character education, took leave of ab' sence to do some globe trotting. Sailing from New York shortly before Christmas he and his wife went to Europe, thence by way of the Suez Canal to India, where they opened Camp Tonakela, a camp for young people near Madras. Continuing their trip they went eastward to China and japan, returning home toward the latter part of March. Mr. Statten's line record of coloured moving pictures has been a treat for those who have seen them. Mr. Frank Murch, school pianist and instructor in music, has been the hard working cofproducer of the School's celebrated Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Rarely appearing in the photographic records of the shows, Frank has escaped with a small proportion of the commendation due him. Mr. R. E. K. Rourke. the other important part of the producing staff for the G and S. shows, has frequently appeared in print, so we take the liberty of showing him in an unusual pose ready to shoot a scene.