School celebrates 50th year

Graduates of Beaconsfield High School (BHS) got the chance to relive the yesteryears all over again when they reunited to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.

BHS was a unique high school by today’s standards. In 1958, the school was created to make room for the influx of baby boomer kids John Rennie and McDonald high schools couldn’t accommodate, adopted a learn through involvement philosophy with its clan system.

“We had four clans competing against each other whether it was sports or theatre. Everybody participated in something, nobody was left out, it was a natural thing,” said John Loles, a graduate of 1968. Now residing in Alberta where he began his mechanical engineering business over 30 years ago.

“My kids, who are all grown up today, didn’t have all this when they were in high school,” Loles added.

Bringing graduates and their families together from across the country and from places as far as Japan and Thailand was not an easy task for Wayne Clifford, a retired teacher and guidance counsellor of 25 years who co-chaired the event. But with the help of internet savy alumni many graduates were contacted through email and the school’s website.

“It’s wonderful to see how they turned out to be responsible people,” Clifford said. “It’s gratifying to know we played a small role in that.”

BHS has the distinct honour of educated a few celebrities like astronaut Dave Williams who made a presentation about his adventures in space, former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray as well as Stephen Toope, vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia.

But not every graduate chose to lead a life in the spotlight. Brenna McBeth from the class of 1997 went on to become a teacher at Edgewater School in Pincourt.

“I always knew I wanted to become a teacher, ever since I was six,” McBeth said. “Whenever kids tell me they want to come to BHS, I get very excited. I usually tell them about the theatre here, because I was very involved in it too, it’s one of the school’s strength.”

Student participation was just one aspect of student life of BHS. The teachers also played a big role in moulding young adults for the future.

“The teachers here were such a great example some would take their lunch with students if they were struggling academically or with intramurals. They were motivated mentors,” McBeth added.

Clifford hopes the alumni broke even with over 550 students presenting themselves for the event and generated enough proceeds to renovate the school’s student Peace Garden hangout.