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hi, welcome back to
The Haig
Earl Haig Secondary School started back in 1928 in what must have been a pretty remote area
compared to what it's like today in the north end of Toronto. Our school has gone through fires,
construction, destruction and surprise, it's still going strong. It seems that even
with all the changes in education policies, practices, and just how different
things are today, it's amazing how strong the pull of the old school magnet truly has
become. How vivid the memories are, how dear we hold all those friendships we
made, how we now wonder what our long lost friends are doing today.
So the big question is: Where has everyone gone, where have they been...and
a chance for us to stop and ask ourselves 'where the heck have we been'.
Today the internet has made finding and remembering our past much easier.
(For some of us this may not be such a good thing). A few of us from the early
70's seemed to have found each other and with the help of sites like http://www.classmates.com
we've been able to begin the re-connecting of lost friends. This
site you've surfed to is here to serve any of those who attended the Haig and we hope that
it will even help a few people get back together.
Then for others it's a chance to just see how well they did, compared to
the rest. Who now has the most toys? Who still has their figure! Who has gained
the most chin's.
So jump in, contribute, add what you can where you like. This site is being
hosted from under my desk at home so, please be patient with any outages or
posting problems.
For a further read on the history of Earl Haig,
check out the link on the left - Years to
Remember
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January 1, 2009
Well another year, and here in Ontario, the sun is shining and the sky is clear
but cold. Other parts of the country are in various states of storm or clean up
from a bad storm. Funny how it just seems to be a case of being wrong place
wrong time for some this time of year weather wise. Kind of like -
how did you end up going to the Haig? Just because you lived in the area? Today
people will go out of their way to make it the school of their choice. But I
guess for us, we just happened to be at the right place at the right time
eh?
Hang in there everyone, for some of us, we are close to our Freedom 55 time if
we haven't already had it, some are taking advantage of it, others are paying
for the fun they had as kids (or for the problem relationships that we found
ourselves in) and will have to wait a few more years. Lets face it everyone we
are getting older, but its not too late to take up a new hobby. Between my golf,
curling and chasing THE wife around the house naked, I'm going to start this new
year with art classes and take up watercolours... yup the sun is shining and it
is cold, but by the time I learn how to wet my brush maybe, just maybe, I'll be officially
retired and it'll be summer. Ahhh I can feel the heat already. Ta Ta or as they
say in the texting world HNY.
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September 15, 2008,
Claude Watson 25th and Earl Haig 80th Anniversary Celebrations!
The Claude Watson Arts Program and Earl Haig S. S. will be celebrating their
25th and 80th Anniversaries (respectively) on Thanksgiving weekend 2008.
Celebrations and a reunion will be taking place Friday, October 10th and
Saturday, October 11th. Please pass on word to any alumni you know and plan to
attend the festivities, which will include performances, memorabilia sale, a
BBQ, and a Silent Auction (silent auction will be held on Saturday only) and a
Gala event on Saturday evening.
Please join the Claude Watson Face group to get updates:
<http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7504905691>
Claude Watson graduates should add your name to the Claude Watson Alumni
Database:
Tickets should be available soon at:
Everyone is invited!
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September 9, 2008 - Sorry guys but I've run out of disk
space and need to rebuild this system. It'll be back soon with more pics and
news.
November 18, 2007 - The amazing thing about this web
site is that people still visit and have the patience to wander through the
miles of links and pages. Got a note today from John Semple correcting a tag on
one of Bill Suddick's drawings of the old High School football team in the contact
section. The info I had, identified the person as John's cousin Steve who
had played a few years earlier.
Winters coming, maybe it's time to break down and get a car warmer...gosh
remember the days of winter driving with 8 kids in the car and the windows
fogging up...hmmm then again there were the nights of the windows fogging up.
Okay, time to go... ta ta.
October 26, 2007 - So we are back up and running. I
guess the PC jr which is running this website hiccupped and caused us to be down
for the past week. I was so impressed when I got an email asking if there was a
problem... people really care ! And with that, I'd like to thank everyone
for their messages over these past few days regarding my other personal tragedy.
Life does come at you in unexpected ways and it's not always the way you want,
when or even how you expect, though you know it will eventually come at you we
still don't plan it that way. As we all climb over the mid century age it is
sure that we will discover a new and different world before us, changing
uncontrollably, unlike any we could have imagined or even cared to explore. I'm
rambling... we are mere mortals people... raise a glass and toast all those who
have traveled this earth before us, toast all those who WE have cared about but
are now gone, and most of all toast yourself for getting this far and not being
afraid to travel on. Life is a celebration and it is our job to keep the party
going. Cheers everyone, Prosit dad!
September 25, 2007 - Quick update on the Alumni
1968-70 reunion coming up November 9-10, 2007. The price has changed to
$40 per ticket or $75 for two. This will include dinner and a bunch of other
fun... Check out the link Alumni
1968-70 for more info.
September 20, 2007 - Well it seems that updating this
website is more work then I have time for at times...oh I have a better excuse,
I'm getting really old and slow...
It's been 5 years since our last party and there is update on the latest
party... The Alumni
1968-70 (follow the link for more info) is having a big bash at the Novotel, November 9-10. Everyone is
invited. But they need to know who else is interested so book the time, call the
hotel book and get a room - get tickets, get involved, call the organizers to let them
know... Do something !!!!!
Mean while, I have more pictures from Mona... Stop it now, not those kind...
Pics from grd 3 - Silverview 1966, but like always... I'm, I'm, I'm working on
it... Figures, due to climate change - golf is lasting longer then expected, the
new Prison Break series is back on, and the daughters goat needs a winter home
built before winter - come on people, give me some time... nice pic's Mona...
Patricia Manning O'Connor sent a message informing that Allan Park has
passed away.
Remember, hug your family tonight, tell them they're special and take the time
to spend those special moments with
them all. Catch'ya all soon.
August 24, 2007 - Where the hell has summer gone? So much is happening, and somewhere summer just slipped by. Lynn Pike has sent me some great cheerleading pics, and I have them almost ready, but, well you see... (sense an excuse coming ?) there was the huge bathroom reno which went Soooo well that it was decided that we (I) do the kitchen reno. I'm sure, it had nothing to do with the daughters wedding in the backyard in July? And then there was the 70 rounds of golf, a couple of golf trips, the weekly round with THE Wife. AND then... FACEBOOK.COM makes all our lives a little more complicated. Have you gone on there yet...? Do it, get an account and search for people, it's great. Anyway, Lynn, your pictures are almost ready for posting, as soon as summer is done, which shouldn't be too long, and my last few golf trips.... I will have them up, so everyone 'Come on back... soon'
July 15, 2007 - Once again sad news received, Craig
Hodge passed away Saturday due to a heart attack.
Stay safe, drive careful. Carp Diem....... :)
July 2, 2007 - Happy Birthday Canada
Another summer well on it's way and already the weather has decided to turn
cold. We actually played golf yesterday with the doors closed on the golf cart..
(to keep the wind from making a mess of our beers). Gotta love Canada!
I've noticed that many of the links throughout this website, to other alumni web
pages, have long since 'expired'... sorry folks. If you find a new link for any
of our old friends or links to your own, let me know and I'll be happy to
fix/post it.
Happy holidays all. Life is precious. Take each breath of air with the pleasure
of knowing that some day, we too, we be history studied by Haig students many
years from now.
We turned another mile stone this month. Hearing aids... now we're not just Blind
and Dumb, but Deaf too! Good news is now I'm an expert in Everything!) Catch you
all Labour Day. Sorry Honey, what did you say? Think my batteries are dead!
May 18, 2007 - Yippy it's the big 24 weekend. And my
wife turns 50 this week... the young puppy. She's always thought that the
fireworks were for her birthday celebration..
I got an email from Pat Cochrane informing me that the Haig
Alumni site is now up and working. Go to it and add your email address if you want
others to be able to find you. Good Luck. It's great to see the students working
on this.
It's the weekend, everyone drive safe, don't water ski ( it's too cold for us old folk ) and leave
drinking the shooters to the kids!
GO SENS GO !
May 13, 2007 - Mothers day... so where were you today?
I won't go any further on this one.... I spent the weekend taking my mom to the
cottage to open it for the summer. One old lady, a step ladder and a
chainsaw...would you leave that combination alone up at the lake? She's a wild
one alright.
The website has been having problems with attacks... like who would want to
attack this old pile of photo's? Well, anyhow, I've disabled both the discussion
board and the ability to add to the guest book. I'm tired reading about
enlarging things that I don't own or that if they were made bigger, would only
resemble a real ugly Shar-pei dog - you know the one with all the wrinkles.
Anyway, this should reduce the number of those postings.
Sorry, but if you do want to send out a message let me know and I will post it
one way or another.
March 14, 2007 - So not only is your VCR still blinking
12:00 but now your computer is wrong by an hour... I am really not looking
forward to the days when I'm too old to take care of my own techno junk and
really pissed off at how everything is NOT getting easier to use. We should be
looking forward to a simple life in our later years. Even golf is getting more
complex with all the different choices -hybrids, balls and putters.
Lindsay Shiels sent me a note to announce the revamping of the 68-70's
web site. You'll also find a link on the left side of your screen. And if
you check it out you will see they are organizing a reunion PARTY
for November.
And still like a little kid, I couldn't sleep last night... flying out in a few
hours for our yearly golf drunk... opps tournament in Orlando...what goes on the
road, stays on the road right...
Has anyone else been thinking about their own mortality a bit more often than
just the usual times, like when you daydream while driving and float out into
the wrong lane? Been going to a number of funerals (which I'm good at, at the
best of times) and it seems that all the old people are disappearing quickly...
where does that leave us? I guess as long as everyone floats out into the wrong
lane at the same time, it don't matter.
Did I mention I'm getting pissed off at getting old, all these F----'n pills,
physio for this and that, inserts for my shoes, and so much grey hair, I'm
contemplating getting my body waxed... Second thought,
NOPE, that'll hurt way to much. More pills...
So March break is in full swing and many of you will be getting away, lets
hope that spring if truly just around the corner. Stay safe everyone, stay alert
and most of all SMILE, that's why we are here in the first place. Carp Diem!
January 23, 2007 - Well winter has come and seems to be kind of going. I'm just counting down the 7 weeks till my group heads down to Orlando for golf.
I'm also started the count-down (Today it's 883 calendar days) till I retire. Now that, all by itself, seems to be a great and wonderful thing. But apparently to my wife it means a whole different thing, event, change of life or something for her, since she still has to work for a few more years after that.
And somehow I get the feeling that her idea of what MY retirement means to me and what MY retirement means to her are totally different. Go figure...
But until I get this definition sorted out what retirement really means, I'm going to continue on counting down.
Actually, she's concerned about my mental state - what? Do I have to like work? Can't I be excited about leaving it? I got in 90 rounds of golf last year while I worked...
I can't wait to see how many rounds I get in once I tell my boss where to shove his keyboard. Now before all you 'Life Coaches' and 'Financial Investment' types start sending me mail
(I've learned how to use my e-mail filters by the way), my current goal is to keep my parents from trying to move in with the wife and I, and at the same time trying to get the kids to move out.
I explained to the wife a few years ago that the major upgrades to the house that we've been doing (to help it sell down the road) are nothing but keeping the children and all their friends happy and living here.
Anyway, one other note before I go, if anyone knows Debbie Henson, ( I suspect this is her married name) could you please send me her email address. The one I have for her bounces and I need to contact her.
Anyway, don't let the cabin fever get you down. Stand naked in your front window and give your neighbours something to talk about. Til later, Ta Ta.
November 14, 2006 - Yesterday, Priit Aruvald passed away. See
the In Memory
link for more information.
August 22, 2006 - Thanks to Ilan for supplying some more names
for the most recent photo additions that Gord sent in a while back starting on page
34 of the old Circa photo's.
August 10, 2006 - Well it seems our very own Naked Brunch is
having another gig at the Bier Mark't. Since these party nights seem to be
getting fewer and farther between, now would be a very good time to see the
boys. Not to mention a good time to gather with a pile of great Haigers. They
will be the ones in the middle of the room making all the noise. If your
interested in attending contact Mona.. for those who don't know who she is ...
shame on you,... contact me and I will pass you on to her. The big night is
August 18. Come on and dance Nakered....
Also, today I received word of the passing of Wilf Sharp from 1969. Another
Haiger...
Remember people... Carp Diem... this life is short, get out there and enjoy...
make the most of it... meet others, meet old friends, make new ones. And when
you meet a Haiger, give each other a hug!... HUG A Haiger! It feels good,
honest! The wife does it all the time.
July 5, 2006 - Going thru the website today to fix a few
problems... like it wasn't working... and I noticed that there are more than
1000 photographs (and usually for everyone there is a second larger pic) and
over 80 megs of stuff here within these pages. You people have done really well
to dig into your old albums and yearbooks to find it all. What
else...? If you haven't noticed the Earl Haig Alumni web site has been
down for a while, I understand there is work to revive it once again. Hold on to
your hats for more info on that. Anyway, stay out of trouble, park the car and
party hardy...
June 26, 2006 - Just received news that Karen Eubank Wason
passed away on Saturday evening. Check this link for more
info.
May 17, 2006 - Some notes below from Corey Ferguson:
Just a reminder, the Spring Garden/Claude Watson School For The Arts is being demolished this summer to make way for the new building. (Don't ask me why the Toronto District School Board can't repair older
buildings that people want to keep?) The school is having a reunion on June 3, 2006. I thought it might be something you could post on your
site for former alumni who may have attended the school.
I sit on the Earl Haig Foundation's Board along with twelve other former students and we are looking for a way of letting
former students and staff know of the importance of alumni supporting the school; scholarships, donations, student's business advertising, helping with the Cringan Hall renovations etc., all things that the Toronto District School Board doesn't provide the school with, that make a very big difference and impact on the quality of education that Earl Haig provides. The foundation has nothing do do with the School Board; it is about former students, staff and friends of the school making Earl Haig a better place to learn and honouring our time there. Our thoughts right now are of small and more frequent get-togethers of alumni either for a pub night or a dinner or special outing and using a small fee or donation to help support the school.
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SPRING GARDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL/CLAUDE WATSON CLOSING
Just a reminder to everyone who may have attended Claude Watson School For the Arts, (formerly Spring Garden Public School, Duke of Kent Public School, and Lansing Public School #4) The school is having a FINAL REUNION AND WILL BE DEMOLISHED THIS SUMMER!
SATURDAY JUNE 3, 2006 11AM - 2:30PM
Students, Friends, Neighbours, Alumni, Staff are all invited back to share memories, meet old
acquaintances and explore the old building before it is torn down this summer to make way for the new school. A FINAL FAREWELL.
For information contact:
Claude Watson School For The Arts,
50 Spring Garden Avenue,
North York, Ontario.
M2N 362
Phone: (416) 395-3180
Heather Mitchell, Principal
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Also to note for former students who lived in the Bayview Village (East Side of Bayview).
There is a wonderful soft cover book that has been published by the Bayview Village Association. It is a 120 page book containing some 58 photographs, maps and other items with commentary by Jeanne Hopkins, along time resident of Bayview Village. Mike it is so fantastic! You have to tell your readers about it. It is simply called:
BAYVIEW VILLAGE from farmland to one of Canada's most picturesque communities.
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Pictures of old streetscapes (Finch and Bayview), the Willow Theatre, The Northeast Drive-In, Oriole, all the old schools, the Dempsey Store, Bayview Village Shopping Centre, Canadian Tire Warehouse, the churches, the old mills and wonderful old houses. The cost of the book is twenty-five dollars (shipping included) The book can be purchased in one way and I highly recommend it for anyone you loved this old area. It is unlikely to ever be republished. I got my autographed book from Jeanne Hopkins directly. I couldn't put it down for hours!
Douglas Webster
7 Sutcliffe Drive,
Toronto, Ontario,
M2K 2A5
(416) 221-5870
End of notes from Corey...........
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May 10, 2006 - First off, want to pass on a message from Peter
Mahon ----
"Some folks might be interested in a concert I am presenting on Saturday May 13. I will be conducting the Talisker Players chamber orchestra and the Tallis Choir in an evening of Mozart.
The concert takes place at St. Basil's Church, 50 St. Joseph St. at Bay, south of Bloor. Concert time is 7:30. More info can be found at
www.tallischoir.com.
Secondly, anyone notice that summer is just around the corner? Anyone
planning a weekender or trip out... include the rest of us... let me know and I
will post it for you...
April 9, 2006 - Next weekend is Easter, and for those who still
have kids at home, a time to sit back and enjoy the giggles, cries and laughs
again of young ones fighting over candy. It is a time of memories for the
kids.
I was thinking about high school reunions the other
day... why is it that those few years we spent together mean so much to people?
Of all the years in our lives that we have gone through, why is high school one
of so much interest, one of more memories (that we remember) than perhaps other
parts of our lives? As we think back, wondering about our old friends, wondering
what they are doing now, wondering why things happened back then the way they
did, maybe that date could have turned out different if.... that time was
special. Our lives are filled with so many experiences, yet high school is one
of special interest to many of us. Me, I have more memories than many, I spent 7
years at the Haig, and today I look at my kids who got through (okay, there is
no more gr13) in 3 and 4 years...I wonder what kind of memories they'll
have.
Oh goody... next weekend is a 4 day weekend...two short work
weeks.. that's even better. If you have kids still at home, or if you've got
grandkids comin over... enjoy the memories...
March 31, 2006 - Well I just came back from Golf down south and
I am looking for any reason to not start a bathroom renovation. So surprise,
guess what I decided had to be done first - update the website...Of course
this delay tactic will only last as long as my wife is away on a road trip.... A
while back Gord R sent in some old pics from circa 1974... they start half way
down on page 34 of the old photo section. It's so
great that they keep on coming in.
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Earl
Haig Alumni of the 60's - 70's 
