This page is for grads of William McMaster High School. Sorry that I don't have more info about the school available but feel free to update your info as you see fit by dropping me a line.

Carole Ritchie Stewart 1961 eric_stewart AT telus.net 
Anybody remember us 'old timers'? We were the first graduating class at William McMaster High School. There were 13 of us. I know where a few of the graduates are and can be reached at the above email address for more details.
Would love to hear from someone from my class. Anyone out there?

Michael Averill 1961 michael AT averill.qc.ca
Looking for people who graduated in that first William McMaster grade 11 class, 1961.

Gale McDonald 1962 apalmer AT purefishing.com
Just found this site and recognized most of the names, i.e. Bob, Carolyn, Jim and Pat. I married Andy Palmer from Otterburn in 1966 and we lived on Spiller Street in Otterburn until 1974 when we bought a farm in St. Jean Baptiste. We had two children (Shawn who is now a father of twin 2 year olds Kaitlyn and Cassandra - and Angela who still lives with us). I retired from CIL/ICI/Orica in 1998 (got a great package) and we moved to Magog in the Eastern Townships. Andy is still working from home in the fishing industry as you can see by our email address. While Andy is working I spent most of my time on the golf course in the summer and curling and bowling in the winter (isn't life great). I am hoping to get to Otterburn in August (for the reunion) and will get to see some of the "old gang". Please keep in touch. (Updated June 19, 02)

Carolyn Stewart 1962 cgilmore45 AT hotmail.com 
I live in Montreal, work at Dawson College and travel the world for adventure and fun.

Jim Leal 1962  fjleal AT sympatico.ca 
- I'm now retired and living in Simcoe Ontario, about 20 miles south of Brantford, on the north shore of Lake Erie, of course with the love of my life Pat (nee Saunders of Otterburn Park). (I'm 58 but don't tell anyone) 

- After high school I went to Radio College of Canada then upon graduation there went to work for a cable TV company, then to C-I-L in McMasterville for a couple of years then settled down in the "oil industry" working for Petrofina (now Petro-Canada) until 1977 and then up to Ontario to work for Texaco Canada, now owned by Imperial Oil (Esso) and finished up this past September working as a "Buyer" in the Purchasing Department. Had a very rewarding career in the oil industry.

- We have two children Jennifer and Greg and they are both in the "law enforcement" field. Jennifer is a 1st Class police officer in the Windsor Ontario Police Services and a graduate of Windsor University. Greg is presently in the security business working at Windsor Raceway and Casino and is a graduate of Sheriden College in Oakville. We are quite proud of both of them. 

- Pat is still working for the Norfolk County Health Department as a secretary and I told her she is working until she is 65 ha ha. She is just itching to get out since I left. 

- I'm a Past-President of the Simcoe Lions Club and the Club keeps me busy being their Bulletin Editor now-a-days.

Drop us a line and let us know about you. We go to see my parents who are still in McMasterville and my sister Sharon is still there even though she is recently divorced. Love to hear from you guys. See the pictures attached. Yes I'm still bald. (Updated Nov 25, 01)

Bob Irons 1964 birons AT sympatico.ca 
Still living in Beloeil. Married my teenage sweetheart, Lorraine, and have two great boys. Looking for some old friends hoping we can get together some time in the future. Working with a major consulting firm in Montreal as project leader and lead designer. Lorraine is with the French school board in St. Bruno. It would be good to hear from someone!!

Neil Manders 1964 nmanders AT fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us
So I was lying in bed this morning in half sleep and getting images of the old McMasterville village. I saw the old stone church on the river road where I took piano lessons, the row of apartments between the school and the skating rink where we would have to sing for our Halloween treat, Jim Leal running from the skating shack yelling "you Bastards shot me in the
head ! !" , the bridge crossing the creek by Mrs Freezes house, Carol Poudrier's basement where we practiced the band, and Gary Ormerods basement were we all grew up playing ping pong. I could go on and on to crossing bridges, making out in Suander's basement, and so on. Feeling nostalgic, I came down to the computer and thought I'd just see if there were any old photos of McMasterville on the net and don't you just know I bumped inot the rvrhs/William Mcmaster page and found all of
you. WHAT A THRILL.

To bring you up to date, I left Canada to go to Oswego New York for University. Half way through that, I had to return briefly to Montreal (to avoid the US Immigration dudes who were in hot persuit). I stayed there a couple of years and taught in Rosemount then booked back to University (when I was legal) and completed the program. Since then, I have been living in Vermont. I first taught on the eastern side of the state in Manchester, then moved to Brattleboro to teach at a school for the deaf (yes and learn sign language). I did that for 10 years then moved to a nearby High School to teach Shop (called industrial arts or Technology education). I was doing that until this past september when I became the technology coordinator for the school district. In all I've taught 33 years (OMG - Oh My God!!!!).

In 1966, I married one of those damn American women my dad had warned me about. We have been happily (well at least 90% happily) married ever since. We have 4 children. Darcie is 29, married, gave birth to Willow first grandchild in July), lives and works at Northfield Mount Herman Private school about 15 miles from here; Alicia is 26, graduated from Bryant in Accounting, lives in Bridgeport and works for the Federal Accounting Standards Board engaged, not married; Joshua is 23, attended 2 years college, working in Boston as graphic artist and musician (plays keyboard like his old man) girlfriend not married; and Virginia is 19, sleeping at home (mostly) working long hours at the local coffee house and attending Greenfield Community College about 20 miles from here, dancer.

Here are a couple of sites where I show up: This is one I did quickly for a Chinese friend that is a bit of bring and
brag to it.
http://www.fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us/~neil_manders/0000D576-80000001/Neil_s_House/neil_s_house.html

This one is the one I designed for the High School last year http://www.wcsu.k12.vt.us/~lguhs/Visitor_Center/Who__What__Where/Staff/Neil_Manders/neil_manders.html (Updated Oct 13. 02)

Bill Sarjeant 1964 bill_sarjeant AT telus.net
Hi Folks:
Wow! I haven't thought about High School in years! Hope all the old cronies are well and have prospered over the years. I am presently residing in West Vancouver and have been married to the same great lady, Arlene, for almost 30 years! Where did the time go! I have two beautiful daughters, Lindsay, 18 and Jennifer, 13. Boy, is it ever payback time! I catch myself sounding like my parents everyday.
For the past 24 years, I have worked for Telus and my career has been very varied from work offshore to my present specialization in voice and data convergence. Days are long but still challenging and very interesting--I'm not ready to hang up my laptop yet!
My latest passion involves a restored '82 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, which I continuously tinker with and shine. My wife says I like my bike better than her...there are days!
For those who have listed here from the pre '70 graduating classes, my sister Margo, who went to WMHS but graduated from CCHS (St. Lambert) now resides in Oakville and is married to Bill Wilson from Otterburn. They have recently retired and are grandparents-twice!
I will scan the site from time to time to see if any of the Old Timers are having a get together.
Cheers!
Bill
PS: I still talk to Don MacRae, Bernie McCarthey and Peter Calderhead. (Updated April 26, 02)

Scott Colwill 1965 colwill AT rogers.com
I moved to Beloeil in the mid 50s and entered Grade 4 that Fall.
I lived on the slopes of Mt. St. Hilaire until moving to London, Ontario in November 1977, and still reside here, with my wife Nancy. I have 2 Children and 4 Grandchildren.
I have been employed for 40 years in the General Insurance Industry since leaving school in 1965.
In the winter still play hockey (Old Timers) about 45 - 50 games a year and in the other season I golf.

Finding this web site was a great rush.
Most of the people that have left messages and bios I remember.
I returned to McMasterville in 1995 for the Reunion but didn't see nearly enough of those people that made those school days some of the most fondly remembered years of my life. I'm hoping that there may be another Reunion in the future.

Some of you might remember my younger siblings: Leslie Colwill Ross - lives in Fergus, Ontario. Craig Colwill - lives in Calgary, Alberta. Christina Colwill - lives in Sydney, Australia. Laurel Colwill Percival - lives in Brampton, Ontario.


R. John Stelfox 196? jigsawpuzzles AT shaw.ca
My name (John Stelfox) may not be familiar but, I attended R.V.R.H.S. in the 1960's. I moved to Ontario in 1968. In 1971 I moved out to British Columbia where I finished my education. I now reside in North Vancouver.

I'm married (17 Yrs.). My wife (Michelle) and I own three purebred German Shepherd Dogs. All three are well trained in obedience, tracking and search work. Two are in the Provincial Emergency Program Course Training Standard for Search and Rescue.

While at R.V.R.H.S. I was friends with a really nice girl. Her name was Ann Boyd. Does anyone know how I may be able to contact her (email)?

I recently was introduced to this site and also to the Otterburn Park, Mopuntainview H.S. site. If anyone recalls me, it would be great to hear from you.

Regards.

John (Updated Nov 29, 03)

D. Ken Ballantyne 1966 I guess I'm one of the originals,having started in grade 1 at the Mcmasterville Elementary School in 1954. Then on to WMHS in 1961.it's a bit foggy from then on. I spent the next 3 or 4 years trying to get out of gr.9.(back then there was no diagnosis for the syndrome, but it's now been recognized as attention deficiet syndrome). Then I went to Mountainview h.s., but left after only a year and a half when I was almost finished gr.11. I eventually got my high school equivalancy in Manitoba about 6 years later. my circle of friends from the three schools could fill a couple of pages if I listed them all. I still run into alumni out here but I guess the most famous would have to be Margot(margie) Kidder of Superman fame who attended gr. 7&8 at MES&WMHS. I live in the Vancouver area as I have for most of the last almost 28 yrs. (Updated Feb 2, 03)

Janice Arlene McIntosh Barclay 1967 j-bbarclay AT rogers.com
After short stays in Regina and Windsor, Canada, as well as London, England, I now live in Mississauga,
Ontario with my husband of 30 years,Bob. We met at Bishops University, where I went after High School. After teaching High School for a few years (History and geography), I became a stay-home Mom and loved every minute of it. Bob and I are now empty nestors, as our three kids are now all in university,ages 23,21,and 19. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me. I still hear from Joyce Anne Ormerod. (Updated Feb 02, 03)

Eric R Biddle 1967 - http://ericrbiddle.blogspot.com/
erbette3 at gmail.com

Joyce Anne Ormerod Caldwell 1967 joyce.peter.caldwell AT sympatico.ca

Hi there all you grads and friends from WMHS!

I am presently living in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, halfway between Montreal and Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River. I have lived here for the past 22 years after spending 6 years in La Tuque.

My husband, Peter, and I are both teachers. I teach grade 4 and he teaches grade 6. For those who knew my mom, I am teaching the same level she taught way back when.

We have one 25-year-old daughter, Faye Anne, who works for IBM in Montreal. My mom taught me in grade 4, and I likewise taught my daughter. What goes around, comes around!

I teach halftime which gives me the chance to participate in lots of sports. I swim, bike long distance, play badminton, take step courses, downhill ski, and roller blade. Not bad for an old lady, I think! I coached mini basketball for almost 20 years and do volunteer work for Alzheimer's, the disease my dad died of. My husband and I also do a lot of travelling, seeing different parts of the world.

I have kept in contact with several grads - Ainslie Thompson, Ian Gilchrist(who left earlier), Bonnie Askew, Janice McIntosh, Cynthia Koomas, Janet Miller, Pat Halbert, and Judy Allan. I met Kristine Logan in Trois-Rivières and actually taught one of her sons! What a coincidence! Most of us write at Christmas and keep tabs on each other.

I'd like to hear from any of you. Just drop me a line!

Bonnie(Askew)Steele 1967 bjsteele AT cogeco.ca
After graduating from WMHS in 1967 I headed off to Bishop's University. I met my husband Graeme there. We've lived in Lachine, Que, Oakville and Newmarket, Ontario, Vancouver, BC and have been living in Burlington, Ontario for the past 5 years. We have two children, Matt who is a Kinesiologist in the Fitness Industry in Burlington and Erin who is a singer/actor and qualified Music Therapist living in Manhattan, NY. Graeme is a Tax Specialist working in Toronto and I work as a reception Supervisor at a Veterinary Referral Opthalmological and General Practice in Oakville. I've been in the veterinary field for 16 years now. That's what happens when you're not permitted to have pets as a kid! I'd enjoy hearing from old friends.After graduating from WMHS in 1967 I headed off to Bishop's University. I met my husband Graeme there. We've lived in Lachine, Que, Oakville and Newmarket, Ontario, Vancouver, BC and have been living in Burlington, Ontario for the past 5 years. We have two children, Matt who is a Kinesiologist in the Fitness Industry in Burlington and Erin who is a singer/actor and qualified Music Therapist living in Manhattan, NY. Graeme is a Tax Specialist working in Toronto and I work as a reception Supervisor at a Veterinary Referral Opthalmological and General Practice in Oakville. I've been in the veterinary field for 16 years now. That's what happens when you're not permitted to have pets as a kid! I'd enjoy hearing from old friends.(Updated September 07, 03)

Ainslie Thomson 1967 thomsona@post.queensu.ca

We lived at 155 rue Biron, next door to the Millers (Gordon, Janet &
Douglas) and Allens (Bruce, Judy & Mary-Ruth) and two streets away from the Birks, Dyas and Evans families. My family left Beloeil in 1965 when my father was transferred to CIL's new head office in Toronto. I finished high school there and came to Kingston in 1968 to attend Queen's University. I never left! I have two children (Owen and Holly), am divorced and remarried (to Hal Schipper from Brockville, who is an ESL
teacher) and have worked in the university's library system for 28 years. Along the way, I've also managed to collect two undergraduate degrees and am now working on an MA in classical studies. I still have my WHMS ring, letter and yearbooks from 1963 to 1966 and I remember every one of the names on the webpage.

Some of you may remember my brothers David and Douglas. Dave and his partner Shauna Butterwick live in Vancouver, where he runs a legal consulting business. Doug and his partner Sylvie Beaudet live in Cantley and Doug is a consultant on a federal government project.

I stay in contact with Joyce Caldwell (Joyce Anne Ormerod) and Pat Evans but have lost touch with everyone else, except for Grant McFadden, whose photo I recognized in an article in the Toronto Star last year. I contacted him and at the end of October this year, when I was in London ON, Hal and I spent an enjoyable hour with Grant, who is a microbiologist at the University of Western Ontario.
I'd be happy to hear from anyone who remembers me and will pass on information for those who would like to contact Dave or Doug. (November 2004)

Peter Wales 1967
I was from the '67 graduating class at William McMaster. Now living "the country life" ...well sort of ..in historic Unionville, Ontario. After many years in the computer business and perhaps too many years of traveling, I "retired" in 2001 after marrying a wonderful lady from Hong Kong (Winnie) then decided I had a whole bunch of other things I wanted to do in life so I unretired myself and now do some consulting, teaching and volunteering along with a healthy dose of community work. I often think about all the good times and great friends I was fortunate enough to know back in McMasterville and Beloeil and feel truly lucky and blessed for the experience!!! Oh yeah .....my brother Robbie still lives in Montreal and my three sisters Janet, Carole and Heather all live on Vancouver Island as does my mom (my grade 2 teacher ...perhaps yours too?) (Updated Oct 03, 04)

Barbara Shaw Lavoie 1968 bblavoie@sympatico or lavoie_barbara@hotmail.com

It's been a while since I've updated our profile. Bob and I (now married 32 years) lived in Arlington, Virginia for two years and were planning on staying in the States until September 11 changed our minds. Bob was working one block from the White House at the World Bank and the plane that hit the Pentagon flew over our home.

As an aside, one of our best friends in D.C. was Leita Jones, an RVRHS graduate in 1978.

Obviously, we returned to Canada in the spring of 2002 and are currently residing in Ottawa as we basically have for the last 32 years except for our stints in Nova Scotia, Paris and Washington. Our next move will be to Westport, ON to our retirement home. Our daughter, Alana, after receiving her Masters in Political Science, has been working for the Federal Government for the past two years. Bob will spend his last year before retirement with the Department of Foreign Affairs working as Program Manager for the Russian Nuclear Disarmament Program. As for myself, I am a professional artist after having spent many years "practicing"! As our daughter is now on her own, our two dogs, Gemma and Sam, keep us busy. I still remember Ms. Mowatt from Gr. 6 and her attempts to make us all "artistic" and Mr. Salmi who was convinced that we were a great religious choir!

I would love to hear from other members of my graduating class or from the year before. Bob and I still keep in touch with Peter Wales and Norman Haslam. Over the past many years, we have run into Judy Allen and Ken Campbell. We would love to have some kind of reunion in 2004 in Westport. (Updated Sept 20, 03)

Gwyneth Rowley 1968 After graduating from WMHS in 1968 I went to McGill for two years where I learned to play a mean hand of bridge. Unfortunately, that skill was not of much use in the working world, so I left and studied accounting through the CMA program (though it was RIA then) while travelling the country. I lived a year-and-a-half in Toronto, 6 months in Calagary, then eight years in Vancouver. By then I was 30 and it was time to act like an adult. My husband, Tom, and I moved to Napanee in 1981 where I got a great job at Loyalist College, only slightly hampered by the fact that I don't drive and there's no public transportation here. Twenty-some-odd years later, I'm still at the College, though entertaining many thoughts of retirement. My e-mail address is <gtt@sympatico.ca>.

My sister, Pat, married Jim Griffiths and lives near Arnprior. They have two girls, 20 and 15. My brother, Rick, married Fran from Thunder Bay and lives a few blocks away from us in Napanee. They have three boys - one who's 16 and twins who are 13. Robbie married Les Gowrie and lives in Toronto now , though they live for many years in Trinidad where Les is from. They have three kids. Ian lives in Montreal with his wife, Angela, and 21-year-old son, Alexander. And, finally, Elisabeth, married Steve Yudin, and they and their three kids live in Toronto. My Mum and Dad still live in Beloeil, in the same house they bought in 1958, despite much encouragement to move closer to the 'kids". (Updated April 24, 04)

Janet Doran-Veevers 1969

Passed away peacefully at home in Santa Barbara, California, after a courageous battle with cancer, Tuesday, November 4, 2003, Janet, age 51, beloved wife of John Grower. Dear sister of Bruce, (Heather), Cynthia, (Rick), Melanie, (Tom), and Pamela, (Ian), sister-in-law of Robin, (Phillippe), and daughter-in-law of Bob and Betty Grower. Predeceased by her loving parents Douglas and Audrey and cherished by her large extended family. Throughout her life, Janet inspired a large circle of friends from all over the world with her loyalty and commitment to them, and with her inimitable style and grace.

Janet danced in Cinderella with the Kirov Ballet at age twelve, worked lovingly with retarded children in Long Beach, and was active early on in the Santa Barbara dance community. She danced down State Street with several friends in what was to become the first Solstice Parade, was the Executive Administrator of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival during its formative years, and was personal secretary to Dorothy and Burl Ives. She was Co-Founder of Santa Barbara Studios, an award winning, and internationally recognized special effects firm, with numerous feature films, including Star Trek, Spawn, An American Werewolf In Paris, and The Little Vampire to her credit. She costumed Kevin Costner's 500 Nations, John Cleese's The Human Face, and was Costume Designer on over thirty stage and opera productions, for many local companies, including Ensemble and Storybook Theatres, Panto Productions, Rubicon Theatre, Westmont College Repertory Theatre, Access Theatre, Lobero Theatre, Music Academy of the West, and UCSB.

Susan LeBlanc  1969 zelda2000 AT videotron.ca (Updated May 16, 2001)

Lorraine (Lorrie) McFadden 1969 mcfadden AT attglobal.net
My older brother, Grant, passed this site on to me. It is quite something to hear how folks have been doing. I graduated in 1969 and went to McGill for four years, got restless and left school for a few years, lived on Cape Cod, and then went back and finished up a bachelor's degree from Concordia in the early seventies. I stayed restless and went over to the Middle East and lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a while. I came back to Montreal, got married and moved to London where we operated an art store for a few years. After a divorce, I started working for a neurologist as a research assistant, and met Bill Browett. We were married in 1986 and moved to Toronto. I got restless again and went off to Ottawa where I finished a PhD in neuropsychology at the ripe old age of 40. I worked in a few Toronto hospitals and now work out of my own practice in Mississauga. I don't have any children but I have nieces and nephews aplenty.I saw an article about a physicist at McGill by the name of Jim Logan, and wondered if it was the same one from Beloeil. A few years ago I saw someone working at Second City in Toronto that was a dead ringer for Peter Scharf but didn't have a chance to speak to him. Peter, if you have been out west all this time, you have a double in T.O. Old timers can reach me at mcfadden@attglobal.net (Updated Aug 22, 03)

Gail Wigg (Greenough) 1969 tweety AT bcgroup.net 
I graduated from WMHS in 1969. Moved to Prince George, BC in 1974 with my husband Terry and our three year old son. We ski and snowmobile, have a cabin at the lake and property at Powder King ski resort. I am a General Insurance Broker with a large international company and my husband works for the local pulp mill. My eldest daughter was married last year and the youngest just moved back home.

Jim St.Amour 1969
Jim passed away suddenly in an accident in February of 2001 and is survived by his wife Heather Muir (RVRHS Class of 71).

Peter Scharf 1969 pgkit AT telusplanet.net
I have been having a pretty good ride, although it sometimes gets lonely up in the Peace River Country of northern Alberta. On the advice of Billy Sargeant, from down the street, I went to UNB, and graduated in '73. I did a stint in Ottawa, then headed west on the train with Victor Gibbs. I drifted from Edmonton, to Prince George to Banff, to Vancouver and then to Calgary. I became a carpenter and eventually moved north to Grande Prairie. I noticed an ad for a farm with a lake and a log barn. Oh boy! After a summer in a tee pee, with goats, chickens ect, I noticed that living off the land was not my calling. I went back to construction work. Armed with a little more self knowledge, some practical experience, and a love for the land, here I am.
Wendy, her husband, and two children live next door. I met Elaine, from Saskatchewan, on the stage of a little theater production. We married in 1984. We have one son, Dylan, who is now thirteen, and likes to play games on the computer. Norm, my Dad, lives in a cabin over by the lake. I am finally beating him on the golf course, although that has more to do with his poor vision and difficulties walking, than my own skills.
We like to luge, ski and travel in the winter, and golf, hike and camp in the summer. In my spare time, I manage my kitchen cabinet business, which now employs 30 people.
Had beers with Jimmy Logan, ten years ago, lunch with James Strike three years ago, and Don McCrae dropped by the shop last winter.

Scott Birks 1969 ScottBirks AT hotmail.com
After I graduated from William McMaster High in 1969, I started at Bishop's University in Science. I changed to Commerce and graduated from Sir George Williams University with a Commerce degree an accounting Major. I also got married to a Pauline who I met at Bishop's. I worked as an accountant and auditor for several years and in 1976 Pauline and I ran a group home for Intellectually Handicapped children for two and 1/2 years. We then started our own family. we have two children, Sara our oldest graduated from McGill and is now a teacher in Pointe Claire, Quebec, where we now live. Matthew is in his second year at John Abbott studying Social Science. As for me I got interested in working with the Intellectually Challenged and retrained as a Special Care Councillor and worked in an institution for almost ten years. After that I got my Degree in Education from McGill and started teaching. Right now I teach in a small high school right over the border in Ontario, Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute where I am the Head of Business and Social Sciences.

My brothers, Peter and John are well. Peter is living in Chicago, married with two children and John is living in Toronto also married with two daughters. I still see Debbie Elliott who lives in nearby Beaconsfield and many of us were at Jim St.Amours' funeral in 2001.

When I read in the paper that our old high school WMHS/RVRHS was being "closed" and becoming a french school I became nostalgic for the old "gang". One item that I found amusing when I went back to the reunion was a display of old WMHS items. One of them was a warmup jacket from an old player on the basketball team. It was mine, I left it in my locker back in 1969 when I feft WMHS and forgot about it and now it sits in a display. There were other items on display so if the old lost and found is still there get your stuff before it gets lost again. I am interested in where everyone ended up and would like to hear from others. (Updated Feb 01, 03)