Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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PROFILE: THE BOOKER AN OLD FRIENDS APPRECIATION OF DORIS AND KEITH IVICLAREN The McI.arens reflect that old saying so familiar to friends of the Hilltop. ' the people ot Pickering , When you remember that Keith has been a nieinbci of our school family since 1948 and Doris since 1051. you rt-alzze that they have been a symbol of good will and Qtr-ict lt 'ng tot many generations of Pickering students. For the first thirty of those years I had the good fortune to be one of Keith's colleagues antl so appreciate the quality of his contribution as a scltoolinaster to the life of our school. Keith lN'lcI.aren came to Pickering as a young graduate of Queens University highly recommended by Professor Norman Miller, collaborator in the writing of mathematics textbooks with Pickermgs Headmaster at that time, R.E.K. Bob Rourke. As a budding schoolmaster, our Ottawa-valley native devoted himself to long days of classroom. counselling. coaching and corridors. but also spent many hours preparing textbooks in mathematics. some of which might easily have been credited to Miller. Rourke and McLaren . ln those early years he laid the foundation of his career in schoolmastertng, His upbringing in Perth gave him a basis for un- derstanding the Pickering philosophy of education with its emphasis on the adolescent need for both firmness and affection. It is an art to make demands on young people in a spirit of fairness and com- passion, to motivate them to strive towards their own potential. not merely to respond to a rigid authority. This kind of approach he took into all his relationships with the students and at Pickering. of course. one meets them in an endless variety of situations. ln the class-room he joined R,E.K, Rourke to give us a department of mathematics of great distinction. Between the two of them they maintained this superb standard for 55 years. a great feather in Pickertngs cap. How many of Pickering's students have heard from Mr. McLaren tBookerJ that learning, to endure, must come by way of understanding. not by rote! They have heard too that such un- derstanding stems from a thoughtful mind and disciplined study habits Our students also profited from the counselling of Keith McLaren in his capacity as Director of Academics. He must have presided over. literally. hundreds of Monday grading meetings of the staff. In guiding students towards university entrance and suitable courses of study. in his role as Counsellor fa fighting devils advocatell. in his many private, extra classes and from his Sunday evening talks at Meeting for Worship, they grew to know whence sprang the strength of his integrity and conviction This same influence was of course also evident in the schools athletic program where he coached and refereed. He brought to his teams in football and hockey and to his coaching in track and field. :got only expert knowledge of the sport. but also his own personal erttliusiasin His players learned from his own example of sports- rrnreslizp and fair play, evidence of poor spirit brought forth a ready 'l,'sf1f,fWI':'.f1l As rt small school we find that most of our games serve -A I I ,,.,.. '-'NI I A, .I , ,-,154-tt.. 1, I Y ij... A 4 iff M 5 v . :jiri ,ya 1 .3 f wifi? ,. '1 -i7Le'ff?'W45 ef ' rig- . M .A It ,,, Q Q4 . . sf 'A il T W fm. It 1 Top Doris and Keith McLaren Centre' Honorary First Colour Award Bottom Honorary Wtddrington Award t fl

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FACULTY

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as a rematch of David and Goliath, but one unforgettable season, 1963-1964, he produced an undefeated Senior Hockey team. The additional fact that Keith was our official starter at the Quaker Relays for many years, at Sports Day and other track meets indicates further how varied and important a part he played in our program of physical education. fl can also recommend him as a solid anchor at first base in the annual staff-student ball gamel. After writing the above account of Keith Mcl.aren's activities at Pickering College l am indeed impressed by the extent and ver- satility of his skills and interests. l daresay he is somewhat amazed himself! lt should also be pointed out that Keith and Doris are very active in the town of Newmarket. Doris serves as a member of the Board of Directors of York County Hospital and of the Hospital Foundation, as well as being active in Trinity United Church. Keith gave many years of service as Clerk of Sessions and is at present a member of the Board of Trustees of Trinity United Church and is also vice-president of the local Red Cross. They have both thus provided a most valuable liaison between our school and Newmarket and as good citizens have done a lot to maintain our warm relations with the town. Doris herself was born and raised in Newmarket and graduated from Newmarket High School. Fortunately for Keith she sang in the chorus of our Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and he soon became a devotee of music. They were married in June of 1951 and their family is made up of Margie. Don and Cathy. Don attended Pickering and in 1976, his graduating year. was honoured as the recipient of the Garratt Cane and a Widdrington Awarcl. ln thirty-five years at Pickering College, from junior master to Assistant Headmaster, Keith McLaren has seen much. done much and given much. The essence of his contribution is found in the guidance he has given in the counsels of our school. The purpose of Pickering stems from a spiritual base, a loving respect for the dignity of each human being. The implementation of such a faith in an adolescent community is always a counter-balance between the easy solution of institutional order and the long-term challenge of belief in the individual. Throughout his years at Pickering Keith McLaren has sensitively understood the subtlety of this struggle of conscience. How often l have seen him bring clarification to such a discussion in a staff meeting or with students, parents or colleagues. When others feel that an impasse is about to be reached, either the Ottawa-valley humour surfaces to break the dead-lock or he zeroes back to basic principles which have been perhaps too close for others to see! The ability to cast such light gives comforting guidance to the individual and reassuring security to the group or institution. Keith's friends and colleagues of the past will know whereof l speak. fThose he leaves behind at Pickering at this critical point in the history of our school will understand that such a light must continue to shine. To them the torch! Harry M. Beer Headmaster Emeritus Old Boys' dinner for Keith and Doris at Hart House on May 6 fl ra- fi g5,.1'r1 ' V - is is F9 .ll ffifzs, x - i 353, 5 332 ' 'Me-.2 Q :T D .Q 5 .1 , . , A - ,jk-g'lff 'bit ' X? 'E:,.g7'.r. t ' A rv , I 'I V 7' 2 f. yi 3 W 354. .- .1 my . -4 vs'4S.. ,nf-t 'av' X ,Y