Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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The Voyageur A Personal Word S I WRITE this introduction to the record of the activities of a school year which follows in these pages, it is difhcult to confine one's thoughts to the activities which have formed such a vital part of all our lives in the little world which is the school. It would, however, require more than super- natural wisdom to make any specific comment on the events of the present moment which might not be completely invalidated by the time these words reach the reader. Events since June, 1940, have continued to move with lightning-like rapidity, the shift in world forces occasioned by the German move to the east is but the latest of the unexpected and incalculable series of events which are shaking the very foundations of the world that we have known. ln spite of all these activities, however, we have tried honestly and sincerely to provide for the young life in our present student body an education that, realistic enough to prepare boys and young men for the terrific challenge that the situation creates for them, is also idealistic in its effort to provide a confident belief in the existence of the eternal and fundamental verities of truth, beauty and goodness. From the pages that follow it will be gathered that all these events have touched the school in a variety of ways. Of the students who have lived here during the past fourteen years about l00 of whom we have knowledge, are serving with the armed forces in various parts of the world. ln the student group itself this year we have had 24 boys who have come to us from the Old Country. They have already made an indelible impression on the developing life of our community. Wfere it not for the tragic cir- cumstances that have necessitated their removal to a place of some more comparative safety to continue their education, we would welcome these events as having most significant educational values, both for the British boys and our own Canadian lads. ln any case we hope that they have been as happy as could be expected under the circumstances in their new home. The actual material in our book reflects something of the atmosphere of the world in which we are living. This is to be expected, no group of aware adolescents could possibly live through these times without feeling in some way their very deep significance. We have endeavoured in so far as possible to continue the traditional activities of our community life. We have tried to provide all the normal adolescent experiences to which we believe the youth is still entitled. ln our classes we have endeavoured to lay sound foundations for further intellectual growth. On the Junior and Senior lVlatriculation examinations of last year 35f72? of all papers written were sucessful. During the coming year we plan to mark in some significant way the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the school. Needless to say such a celebration at this time will not be of a highly festive nature, but we hope it will be of such a character as to mark the occasion with some dignity and to make some contribution to the total community life that will be 11 i

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JOSEPH MCCULLEY, BA Headmaster

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The Voyageur worthy of the history and traditions of the school. As we approach the new year with all its uncertainties I would like to pass on a word of faith and confidence as expressed by a British poet: le that have faith to look with fearless eyes Beyond the tragedy of a world at strife And know that out of death and night shall rise The dawn of arnpler life: Rejoice, whatever anguish rend the heart, That God has given you the priceless dower To live in these great times and have your part In Freedomis crowning hour, That ye may tell your sons who see the light High in the heavens-their heritage to take- KI saw the powers of darkness take their flightg I saw the morning brealff, In closing I want first of all to extend greetings to all our Old Boys wherever they may be-and they are in some strange placesg you are very much in our thoughts and prayers during these times. I also want to extend my thanks to the Board of Management and to parents for their continued confidence, and to the staff and student body of the year 1940- 1941, who have given unstintingly of their loyalty and their effort in order that Pickering College might continue to do worthily its part in helping to build a finer Canada in a fairer, happier and a better world. 04. , I2