Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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THE SPRING FORMAL IT VVAS A HAPPY ACCIDENT or QUARANTINE, a few years ago, that shifted the date of the formal dance from sometime in the winter term to spring. In mid-May, the hill-top is beginning to look its very best, there is every chance that the moon will be young and bright, the shadows cast by the new leaves are tremulous, and the breezes Inay be soft and warm, and the graduat- ing class especially are entering upon that time of last things which has its own proper sentimental value. All these conditions held this year. Several Old Boys were present, for continuity's sake, and in this context Mr. and Mrs. VVard Cornell were especially welcome. Old Boy Dennis Burton headed a team of decorators who capitalized on the significance of the date of the dance, Friday the thirteenth of May, and happy dancers defied with abandon broken mirrors, black cats, threatening ladders, aIId many intriguing varia- tions of the 13 theme. A fine dance - a climax of the year, as the foot- ball dance had been of the autumn term. visitors ' day THERE IS ALWAYS EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR when company is expected, Visitors' Day at Pickering offers no exception to the rule. At 7.30 on the morn of December -ith, the students were roused from their slumbers by the re- sounding bellows of trumpets, shouts of impetuous grade-niners, and the raucous cries of many others who beat the Committee to a draw in their efforts to rouse the School. A record attendance at a record hour was scored at breakfast, and the kitchen staff probably wondered whether all those sleepy-eyed foragers were students or invaders from the town. After the breakfast the boys returned to their rooms and prepared them for inspection by the Committee, the Housemaster, and the Headmaster. When all was considered perfect for the reception of guests, the boys scattered to assist in the organization of various projects indicative of their interests and activities. Prominent among these were displays of academic materials, creative writing. photography, scientific equipment and experiments, wood- and metal-work, and montages, mobiles, drawings and painting done by members of the preparatory department. A debate between members of the Thirty Club and the Commercial Club enlivened the latter part of the afternoon. A splendid supper - when are so many fed by so few? - and a performance of Brother Orchid, reviewed elsewhere in this magazine, concluded an interesting and pleasant at home . Twenty-jivc

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dances THE FOOTBALL C'tV1oToEv 5 DANCE SPECIAL ENTHUsIAsIxI AND EXCITEMENT marked this dance this year, since it marked the climax and triumphant conclusion to one of the best sea- sons the Senior Football Team has had in several years. The Seniors' recent victory over St. Andrew's had been matched, moreover, by a Junior win against the same school. The welcome presence of an unusually large number of Old Boys increased the general air of jubilation and festivity, set off by good music and decorations based on themes from autumn sports. THE CHAIRMANYS BALL HE TRADITION OF OCCASIONAL INFORMAL DANCES to provide an unexpected social highlight from time to time is a good one, and those who attended the Chairman's Ball this year had a thoroughly enjoyable time. Enthusiastic student disc jockeys were quick to meet requests for individual favourites, and Mrs, Henderson provided a fine supper served in the sociable and in- formal atmosphere of the Student Common Room. The tradition has been well-maintained: it should in the future be strengthened. O.L.C. IJANCE FTER A HASTY DECISION by the School Committee, implemented with the aid of the assistant head and a few phone calls, it was arranged that thirty or more Turtle Doves from our sister school would .be shipped up on the evening of November 231-d to be met by an equal number of P.C. WolVes . Upon the ladies' arrival they were pounced upon, and one couldn't say that the first to get there got the best because they were all pretty even in the looks department. They were all quite well taken care of and the M.C. saw to it that they weren't sitting down for any great length of t.ime with his frequent Snow Balls and elimination dances. The high light ot' the evening came at the intermission when we went to the common room where a tasty snack had been prepared by our dietitian. After the snack we returned to the assembly hall and continued dancing to the strains of Miller, Mays, and Flannagan. As usual at the stroke of mid- night they were all whisked away by the calls of their insistent dean and a four-wheeled hustler. Thanks is offered to all who helped to make the dance the success it was. Twenty-four

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the closing dinner Hn PROGRAMME Fon THIS FINAL EVENT of the school year is headed by the - phrase The Year in Review , and its purpose is to touch, however light- ly, on the many threads of idealism and action which make up the stuff of life at Pickering. Thus, the presentation of Colours for athletic distinction - the value of awards lies in their symbolism - underlined the sound skill and attitude developed by individual performers, the ree-ognition accorded the intra- mural teams- to struggle with friendly foes -reminded us of our continu- ing emphasis on co-operation and team-work, the presentation of the Rogers Cane-'tone for all and all for onew - made it clear that the work of the School at both Junior and Senior levels is imbued with the same idealism, when four boys received the Widdrington Awards-- and thy neighbour as thyself - it was made apparent that the achievements of the mind and heart were of paramount importance, finally, the award of the Garratt Cane t-o a member of the graduating class - not only not less but greater - marked not only the measure of the winner 's stature in living a good life, but also the perception of his contemporaries who recognized it. The remarks of Mr. King Clancy enhanced the importance of the Colour Awards, He spoke withmuch good humour and far-reaching knowledge of his experiences in the world of Canadian hockey, and, in speaking of his own boyhood and young manhood, and of his friendships and work with various members of the Maple Leafs, he pointed out that top athletes must have a sense of values which transcends that of mere skill, however important that must be. Mr. Jack Rayner introduced Mr. Clancy to the School, -Tack's presence at school functions is always deeply appreciated, he is a most distinguished and most interested Old Boy, and one is always conscious of the personality deserving of these adjectives beneath any wit and banter which which he might choose to entertain us. Mr. Stuart Henry, new President of the Association, bore greetings from the Old Boys in presenting the Rogers Cane. The NViddrington Awards were presented after remarks by Mr. Jack Struthers, himself an Award winner and now editor of the Newmarket Em and E.rprcss,' -Tack spoke of his own student days in serious and comic veing and he pointed out that the sig- nificance of the Awards is of enduring value, especially as they symbolize a sense of community and a keen interest in and respect for individual human beings. The Headmaster, in his brief but moving remarks, anticipated in personal terms the sense of Auld Lang Syne with which our school year traditionally concludes, for master and student alike, he asserted, the forging of fine friend- ships while living on the hill-top is that which, more than anything else. provides us with strength and happiness. Twenty-six