RVRHS Alumni December Newsletter
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been coming to, contributing to and spreading the word about the site. The growth this past year has been incredible. We have 21 classes now on the site, an active network of former students talking to each other, and regular new contributions. The success has been primarily due to the efforts of those who use the site. Thank you all.
It's hard to believe that this letter is actually getting out this month - a little late admittedly. Things have been hectic of late but have settled down now that the company I was contracted to closed their doors. Finally I had the time to do the newsletter - a silver lining inside of every cloud.
Just want to take a quick sec to brag about my 5-year-old son James who has advanced through three badges in the Canskate program in just two months. He nailed the start of his spin this past week (2 revolutions he has to do 3) and did his first waltz jump (ok it's not a loop but he is only 5).
Thanks to Jennifer Rember (Class of 91) was good enough to provide a copy of that graduating class list to me. So now we are only missing 92-99 - slow but sure we are getting there.
Thanks to Pam Pratt (Class of 77) for forwarding the class list for 1971, which I haven't had to time to put up yet. I promise to get around to it between hustling web work and hardware sales from unsuspecting businesses.
It had to happen, someone doesn't like the name of my domain and said "i'd like the site to be under a different title than *geekstreet* thanx,"
(SIC). Sort of puts a smile on your face to know that even after we become adults even being associated with the word geek can make some people uncomfortable.
The number of new messages in the RVRHS Newsgroup/Discussion Forum is truly amazing. It has been very successful and I would like to thank everyone who is posting and keeping the message board going.
Ross Forbes (Class of 76) ross.forbes2 AT sympatico.ca
Married for 11 years and I live in Brossard with my wife Katie and two children, a boy Shawn (8) and a girl Jessie (5) . I am a partner in a manufactures representative company that specializes in electronic components (semi -conductors, resistors, capacitors etc..). I still have a passion for skiing and I am still on the ski patrol at Owl's Head (25 years)
Sandra Sturton (Class of 74) rbaron AT telusplanet.net
B.Sc., M.Sc. Agricultural Engineering. Married, two kids, living in Alberta.
Eric Graydon (Class of 81) Ecgraydon AT aol.com
I didn't graduate from RVR but I attended Mountainview in Otterburn and spent 2 years at RVRHS until my parents moved. In my early 20's I spent several summers working in Otterburn and hanging out with the likes of Marc Leblanc, Ken Deeks, Peter Brugmans and Craig Down.
Steven Prentice (Class of 82) prentice AT bristall.com
Steve Prentice is married and lives in Toronto. He owns a consulting firm called Bristall Morgan which specializes in the human side of the information revolution. He delivers seminars in time management, project management and business writing & presentation skills, and has written one book on time management. After graduating from RVR he went to Concordia and obtained a degree in Communications Studies (class of 89). He then studied Law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto but escaped after 2 years. (York University is NO place to try and survive on a Quebec student loan - actually, nowhere is!). He started up Bristall Morgan shortly after leaving York, and has been at it ever since. You are welcome to contact him via e-mail at
prentice AT bristall.com . .
Dale MacDonald (Class of 77)
Living in Pointe-Claire with her husband Mark Griffin and their 4 year old daughter Megan. She works as a team leader for a Social Work team at the Royal Victoria Hospital. After RVR she went on to complete a B.A. in
Psychology at Queens and a BSW and MSW at the University of Windsor. Her temporary email address is
markjw AT istar.ca
Robb Mitchell (Class of 80) windmilllane AT think.iprimus.ca
Rob is married (since 1991) to Eileen O'Donnell, living in Winnipeg, and owns his own video production house called Windmill Lane Productions. He recently won a Gemini Award for his work for Man Alive.
Lisa Morin (Class of 80) l.morgan AT mail.jfs.org
I am living in Baltimore, Maryland, running a residential program for adults with developmental disabilities for Jewish Family Services.
Miranda Keating (Class of 90) miranda_erickson AT transalta.com
I was married in 1997 (Liz Auclair was a bridesmaid at my wedding) and am currently living in Calgary, working in the Investor Relations department at TransAlta. After graduation I went on to Marianopolis and then did my BComm at McGill. I then spent a year living abroad, first 2 months in Bogota, Colombia and then 14 months in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, I have been in Calgary with my husband, Russ. Unfortunately, I've lost touch with most people from our class, but would love to know more about what everyone is doing!
Joy Whittaker (Class of 76) jweir AT cadvision.com
Richard Jones (Class of 73)
780-455-9061
rdjones AT compusmart.ab.ca
Employed by the RCMP K Division, NSS Section, Edmonton Alta. I am blessed with a magic lady, a 19-year-old stepdaughter and a 16-year-old son. Will be there in 2000! Anybody else?
Heather Johnson (Class of 82)
Graduated Concordia with BComm. Landed job with FedNav in Mtl and is still there. Met at FedNav Kevin Gogarty and married in May 1993. Has a 2 year old son. Currently living in St-Lazare.
Steve Johnson (Class of 85)
Attended Dawson College and continued studies in the electrical trade. Is now a master electrician. Built his own house in Richelieu where he lives with Sue Fauchon (12 years together) and have 2 children one boy and one girl.
Karleen Bird (Class of 80)
Karleen Bird (now Mathieson) attended UNB. After graduation moved to Ontario. In Nov. 1989 married Bruce. She works at Scotia Bank and as 2 girls Jessie and Kristin. Karleen lives in Scarborough.
Lynda Frost (Class of 80)
Lives in Ottawa has two children.
Dale Wilkinson (Class of 79)
Married Rupert Hayes (Class of '77 I think). She lives in Chambly and has 2 daughters.
.
Tania Fell luctan AT sympatico.ca
After graduating, I went to Dawson, and then onto Pratt&Whitney, where I met my husband Luc. We got married in 1990 and Philip was born in 1991. Our second son, David, was born in 1995. We have been living in Longueuil for 13 years now, and I am working for Mediagrif in Longueuil. Here's my phone# 450-442-3945. Love to hear from some of the old gang!!!
Carl Bird (Class of 79) carlbarb AT internorth.com
I spent 18 of those 20 in the Navy. Spent part of that time in St Jean at Military College and got a degree in Administration. After that went to Esquimalt (near Victoria) for 6 years including 3 years on board HMCS GATINEAU and RESTIGOUCHE. Went to Hawaii, California and most of the Pacific Northwest. Spent 6 months with a United Nations peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights (Israeli occupied Syria). Those six months were incredible.
After Esquimalt I spent four years in Ottawa at National Defense Headquarters and then, for my last tour, 2 years in Yellowknife Northwest Territories as the Comptroller. I got an early retirement package and since 1996 have worked for the Territorial Government up hear do financial reporting...financial statements and such. Pure accounting job, although as a manager I get to work more on projects and supervise staff who prepare the actual reports.
I got married in 1990 to Barbara, who is from Southern Oregon. Met her in San Francisco in 1989 when our ship was in port. OK enough of the any port in the storm jokes. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in March (17th to be exact) and really like living in Canada's North. WE don't have any kids, but Barb has a daughter from a previous marriage who has a 6-year-old son. So I have been a "grandfather" since the age of 31.
I have never met anyone from RVR up here but if anyone is planning on visiting, let us know. We would be glad to put you up and show you around.
Dave Crawford (Class of 75) crawfrds AT sentex.net
Karin Webber (Class of 75) crawfrds AT sentex.net
Laurie Steben (Class of 82) brianuffen AT globalserve.net
After graduation I left St. Bruno and moved to Toronto. I'm working for Pratt & Whitney Canada in Mississauga in the Environment, Health & Safety Group. I'm married (12 years) and have a son who is 5.
Roland Brugmans (Class of 78)
Roland has been married to Johanne for the past three years and they have two boys. Roland lives in Vaudreuil and works at Nortel.
Peter Brugmans (Class of 83)
Lives in Chelsea (near Hull) and has been married to Marie-Hélène for the past 8 years. He is owner of a chocolaterie/restaurant called Pêché Mignon.
Jennifer J. Johnson 03/01/63 JJoh165642 AT aol.com
After graduating I hit the bar scene. Okay that is a white lie, I actually hit it before graduating but loved it so much that I started working in one. I worked at the Balmoral in Chambly off and on until 1989. During this time I worked at the bar and did odd jobs living a very nomadic life between 81 and 85. I drove across the US and ended up in Pasadena, California. Did this a couple of times. I returned to Chambly in Oct 1985 and decided to settle down. I took a job at the Richelieu Valley School Board in Otterburn Park.
In Sept. '86 I had my first son. Now it was time to get serious. Being a single Mom, I returned to the bar on week-ends and worked at the School Board during the week. I could feel the stirrings of wanting to be mobile again so in '88 I took off to Mexico. While enjoying myself at a very bizarre night club I met this incredibly annoying guy who was vacation in Mexico from Belize. Four days later we were engaged. I returned to Chambly, quit my jobs, sold my stuff and moved to be with him in his native England. We married in Chambly in '89.
Things become a little confusing from here on in for awhile. In March '89 my son goes missing after a visit with his father. I become a horrible statistic and a bit of a mess. He is located in August and returned to us in November. We return to England and in March '90 along comes son number 2. Then along comes the Gulf War. My husband is a medic in the British Army. We are advised to prepare our wills, he takes all of his pills and gets all of his inoculations and we wait. By some weird coincidence, his contract is up and they allow him to discharge. And yes, Gulf War Syndrome exists. Near the end of the Gulf War we pack up and return to Chambly. An Englishman in New York my husband is not. He and the French have a difficult time. Off to Toronto.
In 1993 we land in Scarborough. Currently I own and operate Cutting Edge Surgical. I have been in the ophthalmic business since ending up in Ontario. We work with Laser and Lasik centres across Canada. My husband & I are active with our business and our 2 boys. My 13 year old (Nigel) plays football for Scarborough and our 9 year old (David) plays soccer. That old restless feeling is back and we are looking at moving once again. Our eldest is looking at Simon Fraser University (good football program) so who knows. See you at the Bash.
Laura Steels (Class of 82) edandlaura AT hotmail.com
I did a nursing degree at Mcgill and worked for many years in pediatric intensive care. I have been married for ten years and have two kids John (5) and Alison (8 mo.). Since leaving Montreal we have lived in Halifax, Sydney C.B., Toronto and have just returned from two years in Neuchatel, Switzerland. I am now living in the Toronto Area again and enjoying being a stay at home mom.
June Thompson 1/6/62 (Class of 79) jthompso AT thegazette.southam.ca
I graduated in 1979.June has been working at the Montreal Gazette since 1979 (it was only supposed to be a temporary thing!). first as a receptionist, then as fashion researcher and currently as the assistant to the editor-in-chief. She lives on the south shore and is happily married to a great guy named Greg and the overjoyed and proud mom of nine month old Evan.
Would love to hear from old classmates.
Paul McHenry (Class of 83) married Janne Fossberg (Class of 82) on Thanksgiving weekend in Otterburn Park. They live in Vancouver.
Lynn Waters (Class of 78)
Jeff Strange and Lynn are married, with 1 daughter, living in Mission, B.C.
Jill Krakenberg (Class of 80) doug.kuhn AT sympatico.ca
I would've graduated in 1980. But my parents whisked me away from St. Bruno, PQ to North Lunenburg, ON in September 1979. So I went from a population of 30,000 + to 400-. Talk about culture shock for a 16 yr. old. I felt I was living in the "boonies". No one I knew except for my mother's side of the family-and we won't go there.
I was enrolled in ODHS{213 students} in Ingleside, ON, pop.1600. In Ontario one graduates in Grade 12 and they had the nerve to want to put me back a year in Gr.11. So I managed to con my way into Grade 12 with the understanding if I couldn't handle Gr.12 I would move back to Gr.11. Sorry but it was too funny. They also refused to accept my Quebec credits. So I had the pleasure of taking Gr.12 courses that I had already taken in Gr.9 AT RVR. One would naturally assume I would fly through the courses. But being the rebellious teen that I was {that we all were at some point} was so insulted that I decided to just pass the courses without working b/c it was all repeat work. Well enough of that. After High School I took a year off doing nothing. Then went to St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, ON and studied Medical Secretary. That bored me to no end, so quit after the first year. Then I decided to take Nursing which I loved and felt was my calling. So I worked at that till I started my family.
I met my husband, Doug, in 1982 and married him in April 1986. We have two wonderful beautiful children, Samantha {13/01/88} and Shane {01/09/90} and of course our dog Shelby {hound/shepherd mix} {14/11/96} who is the biggest baby and lap dog weighing in at 77 lbs.
We moved from Cornwall, ON to Ingleside, ON in August 1993 and love it here. We can see the St. Lawrence River from the living room window........not that I would allow the children to swim in it.....ha ha I started up my own business in September 1999 called Antique Treasures--Buy, Sell & Trade antiques. So far so good and it allows me to continue to be a stay-at-home Mom.
Michel LeClerc (Class of 78) polymer AT netscape.com
After high school, I worked as a mechanic, then security guard, campground maintenance, went back to school, graduated with honors from a technical college as a< machinist, and somehow wound up in Injection Molding. Was in charge of Molding operations at NorTel for ten years before accepting a position with Siemens/Dow Corning communications. Spent six months training personnel in North Carolina on fiber optic fusion sets before returning to the South Shore. I currently work as an injection molding technician in Candiac and live in Greenfield Park. I lived with a girl for ten years and we recently went our separate ways. No children and single for the time being. I'd like to see marriage and children before they bury me. I still enjoy playing music and have a home studio. Although I've been told I should market my stuff, I keep it as a hobby.
Hope everyone is doing well! I miss you all.
Lorie Fotopoulos (Class of 78)
Married Mark Robinson (class of 78) and has a son and daughter. She works in production in Toronto for a major television network.
Lorraine Allum (Class of 78)
Lives in Quebec and has a daughter.
Marc Gadbois (Class of 78)
He operates a large trucking service center. Contracted to maintain all city of St-Hyacinthe's industrial machinery.
Serge St.Cyr (Class of 78)
Currently living in British Columbia as a corrections officer in a maximum security penitentiary.
Mark Varney (Class of 78)
Married Julie Berners (class of 81) owns a business and lives in Campbellville Ontario.
Jean Leclerc (Class of 81)
Entered the Canadian armed forces in communications. After 6 years took his chances and applied for SarTech. After grueling tests was accepted as a Search and Rescue Technician. He served In Comox B.C. and now resides in Winnipeg. Has a son and daughter with his wife Lyne who also works for the Forces in payroll. Jean lives a life of danger but goes with the SarTech motto. "So that others may live".
Michel Bergeron (Class of 81)
Michel owns a thriving custom motorcycle business. His work has garnered him many awards and magazine covers. He currently lives with his wife and lots of animals just outside Chambly Quebec.
Julie Berners (Class of 81)
Married Mark Varney (class of 78) now living in Campbellville Ont.
Carolyn Cooper (Class of 81)
Last heard to be working as microbiologist in Guelph Ont.
Jean-Nicolas Corman (Class of 89)
Currently working at Future Electronics (Not Future Shop) as a product manager in the marketing department. Living in Old Montreal and wishing that someone would organize a reunion sometime soon.
Email: jean-nicolas.corman AT future.ca
Carole Corman (Class of 79)
Carole is an elementary school music teacher in the west island and she is the mother of a lovely little girl.
Natalie Corman (Class of 81)
Lives in Switzerland where she met her husband. They have two sons.
Manon Corman (Class of 84)
Manon was a high school teacher at RVR but recently transferred to Ozias Leduc in Mt-St-Hilaire.
Laurence Corman (Class of 87)
Married Chris D'Alesio (Class of 83) and works at a production Company in Montreal.
Tim Steels (Class of 80)
steels AT telusplanet.net
I am a Mechanical Engineer and I work in the Oil Service Industry in Alberta. I have been married for nine years and have a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter.
I am looking for a friend of mine who went to Richelieu Valley.
Hopefully you can help me.
I hope this is the same school that is located outside of Montreal near St. Bruno, etc.
His name is Ray Wilcock. I believe he graduated in 1973. Have there or will there be any reunions for his graduating class. Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
Kathy Read
p.s. my new email address is kread AT apmdelstar.com
Teresa Canniff
I have been living in London, England for the past 2 years working for IBM. I will be getting married to an Aussie in February and plan on staying in Europe for a few more years. My e-mail is
tcanni AT hotmail.com .
Cindy Carswell
carswc AT pfizer.com or cindy.carswell AT pfizer.com
Left RVR and headed to Dawson College where I met my future husband, Nick. Continued on to complete my BA (English/Creative Writing) at Concordia and then did a diploma in education at McGill. Taught for one year in St. Bruno. Changed gears and headed into university development and alumni relations where I'm involved in prospect research for McGill. I left McGill in November '98 - after nine years in the public sector, it finally dawned on me that I was never going to make any money there! I am now working at Pfizer Canada Inc. and loving it. Especially the fact that I am a seven-minute drive from home - no more downtown commuting!!! It's hard to believe that it took me so long to move into the corporate world where businesses actually reward their employees with raises - bonuses - perks! What a concept. In between, I got married and had two children, Leah (6)and Mario (5)and am living happily in the West Island.
Janice Pilkington (Class of 77) jmpilkington AT sympatico.ca
I live in Toronto and I work for Federal Express Canada as the Vice President of Planning & Administration.
Gail Richardet (Class of 77) gnelson AT cadvision.com
In Calgary since '81, married (HA!HA!) '93 - just a pair of DINKS. Missing all that I left behind. Saw Doug Ford at Grey Cup in Vancouver 99, that's where I learned about this site. Awesome.... Keep up the good work!!! Looking to post "LOOKING FOR Lisa Petts"
Ray Audette (Class of 77)
Moved to Calgary with his wife Pam McGaw (Class of 77)
Pam McGaw (Class of 77)
Moved to Calgary with her husband Ray Audette (Class of 77)
Stephen Dunn (Class of 77)
Lives in Detroit with is wife and family.
Norman Dupuis (Class of 78)
Has lived in Calgary since 96.
Kevin Langton (Class of 80)
(kevin AT jobnetwork.com , klangton AT mindspring.com)
Resurfacing after many years of obscurity, having only recently discovered the RVRHS Alumni site during an idle moment on Ask.com. I attended RVRHS 1975-77 and would have been in the Class of 1980, had Nortel not relocated my family in Fall '77 to Nashville, USA as part of the (Anglo) corporate exodus inspired by Bill 101.
After enduring the remainder of Grade 9 in junior high (Tennessee high schools start with Grade 10), I attended two more years of high school in the Nashville area before completing my senior year in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1981 (I seem to recall there was no Grade 12 in Quebec). That Fall, I returned to the South to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech, but shifted gears and graduated from Tech in '86 with a business degree. I've been divorced for some time now (but no kids) and still live in the metro Atlanta area. Recently, I started my third career, this time as a database programmer and web developer.
These days I'm trying to return to competitive condition (having being sidelined by knee surgery) for two of my passions - inline speed skating and bicycle racing. I'm an avid devotee of dark wave and indie rock and wish I
could devote more time to learning guitar and bass. Those who knew me from Mr. Henke's concert band would remember me playing clarinet and alto clarinet (though my secret yearnings to play sax were not fulfilled until a few years later). I'm sorry to hear Mr. Henke is no longer with us - though I certainly wasn't a star musician, my fondest RVRHS memories were from my years in the band program he directed.
Over the last 20+ years (has it been that long already?) I have unfortunately lost touch with everyone I knew from RVRHS. I have not seen St.Bruno since 1982, and my last visit to Canada was to Vancouver, three years ago!
I would love to hear from other Class of 1980 members or even those who even recall their early '70s at Mt.Bruno Elementary. Rob Chenier, Ian Crooks, Travis Kennedy, Cheryl Taylor - are you still out there?
Paul Anthony Monaghan
I am currently working as a computer consultant for a company called Arqana Technologies in Toronto please email me at
paulm AT spider.org or check out my web page at http://www.spider.org/ - Look forward to hearing from you!
That is it for now, I hope you all enjoy the holidays.
Best of the season.
Denis Bernicky,
http://www.geekstreet.com