Vermilion School of Agriculture - Yearbook (Vermilion, Alberta Canada)

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FIRST YEAR LASSIES T HE 1934-’35 term opened with an excellent enrollment of freshmen and freshettes who gathered from far and near eager for the winter ' s fun, and full of enthusiasm. At first we felt strange in our new surroundings, so far from home, but this feeling soon wore off and we settled down to work and play together. Initiation this year worked no hardships on the girls, and very little on the boys, the reason being that the first year class outnumbered the second year by about ten to one. However, we were soon on the best of terms with the senior class, among whom we made many friends. About twenty of our number thought it cheaper to stay down town than in the dormitory. They courageously faced thirty or forty below zero weather and knee deep drifts twice a day. We, in our snug residence did (A complete list of Freshmen and thei SOME FIRST YEAR LADDIES not envy them their long walk, but perhaps they suffered fewer colds than we, at that. On Field Day this year, one of our members, John Lazaruk, carried off the honors. Later we were well represented on the hockey team by Joe Kallal, Paul Therrien, Jack Good, Jack and Vernon Willis, and Frank Rol- heiser, the trusty goalkeeper. It is with a feeling of regret that we realize our first year is drawing to a close; however, we hope with many others to continue our course next year. In closing may we extend a hearty vote of thanks to the staff for their assistance in making this a very happy and successful year. HELEN HART. r addresses will be found on page 35.) [ Page twenty-one ]

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« « « The Community Theatre » » » “The spirit of a nation, if it is to find full expression, must include a national drama. —Bessborough, 1933. T HE INTEREST in community play-acting has become so general in the past few years that it strikes people as being surprisingly new. When one considers, however, that drama had its inception in the natural vigor and vitality of rural and village life, it seems only reasonable that after the last quarter century of elaborate, artificial and highly commercialized show houses, it should go back to the source from whence it sprang to be refreshed, revived and strengthened. The money changers’ theatre is an elaborately housed institution but the people ' s theatre is an ageless idea, springing ever fresh from the hearts of humanity. Consequently the feeling one has in teaching the technique of theatrical art is not so much that of teaching a new art as assisting at a renaissance of an old one. As our new communities become more conscious of the possibilities of their own lives there is little wonder that they turn to discover what the ancient art of the drama can do for them. For drama is not as the other arts—a painter can work at his easel alone, a sculptor may chisel his marble in solitude, and a composer needs only himself and his instrument to achieve his solemn mystery. But drama is com¬ munal and composite. It needs a playwright, an initiator, craftsmen and an audience, before it can begin to fulfill its glorious appointment with life. A volume could be written about the influence of plays on community life. The reading and interpretation of drama constitutes one of the most potent impluses towards the establishment of a more unified culture. It affords a stimulus to intellectual activity and discussion. It develops in its participants a more intense consciousness of man ' s struggle for truth, a deeper appreciation of beauty, a more discriminating evaluation of life. It quickens the interest, heightens the perceptions and broadens the outlook of those who make it an integral part of community life. Walter de la Mare has said, The world is any man’s; and apparently inexhaustible, but all that we know of it is what has been transmuted in the substance of the mind. We make of it what we imagine. The Community Theatre, more than any other medium, can enrich the imaginative experience of those who take part in it; and because of its alliance with the arts of music and the dance, of poetry and of painting, it may become an active stimulus to creative activity in any of these fields. Yet it is nearer than any of these to the deeper consciousness of humanity. With each new age drama has taken on new aspects; it has known defeat and exaltation, shame and triumph; but from the beginning its highest purpose has been to reveal the life and spirit of man. In Alberta in the past few years the interest in the community theatre has been keen. In a world of uncertainty people are turning more and more to those things which have a permanent value and they are discovering anew the fascination of the theatre. They have found that a lasting pleasure is to be gained from the interpretation of plays that possess significance and beauty. They have found too that such plays can be done simply, without elaborate scenery or costume; that it is possible to achieve effects of great beauty through the thoughtful employment of simple materials. There has been too, in this province, a growing realization of the place of drama in the schools, and from the schools we may expect a powerful impetus towards the growth of vital national drama. It is necessary for leaders in community theatre to have a developed appreciation of dramatic writing, a sympathetic and sound comprehension of life, and a technical proficiency, coupled with imaginative insight, that will enable them to inter¬ pret a play with sincerity and truth. The student who attains these qualities in school or college will bring to his community something for which there is a definite need. The effort expended in producing a play that provokes thought, a play that has power or beauty, whether it be comedy, tragedy, or melodrama, is not lost but gives rise to a renewed appreciation of living. The production of such plays engenders thought in the fields of economics, government, philosophy, morals, and world citizenship, for such is the stuff that modern drama is made of—just as it is the stuff that modern life is made of. It is through those individuals who have learned well the crafts of the theatre and who have pledged their faith to its high purpose, that our community drama may come to express the spirit of this people. ELIZABETH STERLING HAYNES. [ Page twenty ]

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A S IN former years, athletics have received their due share of time and interest. With a fine open fall, most of the November gym. periods took the form of out-door soft-ball contests, and several embryo Babe Ruths and Dizzy Deans were unearthed. The Track Meet saw a fine clean cut collection of athletes displaying their prowess—the photo of the individual track champions will be found on another page. As the days shortened and the weather got colder, our energies were directed to repairing and flooding the rink, and to gymnasium activities, chiefly volleyball and basketball. The latter was as popular as ever, and got a good boost” when Charlie and Syd. Mitchell, star performers of a few years ago, brought a squad of lively young athletes from Lloydminster, to play our boys. The Mitchell Midgets were just a little too experienced for the V.S.A. students, and emerged victors of a splendid game, in which our team showed lots of spirit and individual ability, but insufficient com¬ bination, as this was their first appearance as a team. Owing to a bout of sickness we were unfortunately unable to engage in any other outside games, but confined ourselves to the House League Basketball. This proved more popular than ever, the teams being very evenly matched. The conclusion of the league schedule found Bothwell’s Babes, Larsen’s Vikings, and Therrien’s Canadiens” bunched at the top, while only a game behind were Pankew ' s Tufguys, Jeffrey ' s “Bull¬ dogs, and Bradley ' s Guides,” this indicating the closeness of the league. An account of the final will be found elsewhere. The girls were unable to complete their league schedule owing to sickness, which was unfortunate as there were four good teams. They played several games with the local high school girls, which they generally emerged victorious by a narrow margin. Mary Kinasewich was probably the most finished player, and other outstanding performers were Lena Shandro, Alice O ' Brien, Pat Burns, Mary Federuk, Mary Rodash, and Chris Mackey. We are looking for a real girls ' team next season. T HE hockey team again entered the Civic League and also played a number of exhibition games. It was apparent from general opinion that the team would not be very strong but the boys were willing to learn and together with team spirit and cooperation proved differently. Before the end of the season they certainly showed what they could do and after a poor start came within one point of the playoffs. The boys in their new uniforms of black and green and gold looked very neat and along with playing good clean hockey were worth while watching. One of the best games played was against Lloydminster High School. It was fast and clean and was witnessed by a large number of fans. The game ended, in a win for the V.S.A. and being the last game was a fitting finish to a successful season. The school was represented by the following: Goal: Frank Rolheiser. Defence: Joe Ka I la I and Archie Jeffrey. Forwards: Torlief Larsen, Jackie Good, Paul Therrien, Harry Phelan, Vernon Willis and Ernie Smith. Spares: Tom Boyer, Bennie Flaade, Jack Willis, Paul Pankew and Bill Kowalchuk. Manager: Mr. A. Wilson. Coach: Mr. E. Jones. Frank was one of the reasons for the team’s good showing. Joe, captain of the team, was one of the outstanding players. Archie played good defensive hockey. Torlief was the scoring punch. Jack, the best back checker. Paul, the most improved player. Harry, the cleanest player. Vernon, the steadiest player. Ernie was improving every game. Tom, Bennie, Jack, Paul and Bill were always there to help. We are very sorry to see Archie, Torlief, Harry, Ernie and Tom leaving the school and we wish them every success. Their places will be hard to fill but we hope to try with new students this fall. The House League was won by John McCarty’s Fliers after a hectic playoff series against the Bulls. The winning team won the first game 6-0, lost the next 2-1, and came through the third 4-0. The outstanding game of the season at the school rink was played when the students challenged the staff. Needless to say the staff came out the winners by a score of 3-0, the students finding it impossible to beat Mr. Elliott in goal—or was it the array of nurses, doctors and stretchers that put them off? [ Page twenty-two ]