News from Alumnae: 2008 to 2009

Linda (McClatchie) Walsh

Linda (McClatchie) Walsh organized a mini reunion for Alumnae who attended Alma between 1958-1963. Of the alumnae planning to attend, only two could not come at the last minute due to other circumstances.

We did spend a substantial amount of time Friday evening at Cindy's going around the room of 33 people, telling out stories of our lives, but we did not have a tape recorder and should have. Some Alma Girls have lead very interesting lives. We have become a very talented and diverse group: from public service, fund raising, music, nursing, teaching, career business women, politics and many other careers.

One of the Alma girls, Laurie Schmalz, sailed across Lake Ontario from the states to the Toronto Yacht club to get to Toronto.

The funniest meeting was Friday evening Monarch's pub, when we walked in and some girls were there already. Oh my god, who is that person? It was scary. Donna Brearley had her graduation picture 5 x 7 hanging around her neck. What a brilliant idea!

The weekend was way too short and we did not have enough time to spend quality one on one with everyone. All in all it was very successful, lots of memories and lots of tears. Can hardly wait to do it again. Toronto was a perfect place. We plan on having another reunion in September of 2010. Everyone was excited to attend and many who did not attend want to come to the next one.

The group would like to acknowledge the sudden death of alumna Lesley Kennedy. Lesley flew from the United Kingdom to attend this mini reunion, and passed away one week after returning home. A memorial service was held for Lesley in Ottawa.

Linda worked for over a year on this effort and wants to thank all who helped to discover the whereabouts of so many girls.

Attendees: Mary Jane Brinkos, Bea Laurie Eden, Ann Graham Rooney Calderisi, Judy Coates Jewell, Cindy Wiley Williams, Beth Helmer Stewart, Pat Moore Buckland, Candy Tisdale Ross, Laurie Stewart Pallett, Lesley Kennedy, Bonnie MacLean Anderson, Beverly Ellis Anderson, Linda McClatchie Walsh, Mary Ann Coyle Morton, Donna Brearley Kleiman, Ann MacDermid Ferguson, Vivian Wilson Johnson, Wendy Stanfield Chisholm, Jennifer Macfarlane Wray, Peggy Dean (Maggie) Tillett, Laurie Schmalz Hugill, Suzanne Hood Campbell, Marjorie Montano Short, Wendy Irvine Ens, Ruth Whiteley Wells, Carolyn Lee Davies, Connie Amy Boone, Judy Hahn Kocher, Marcia Schram, Judy Miller Scheifele, Jane Mitchell Moore, & Eleanor Grimm.

Linda (McClatchie) Walsh

Various Alumnae


ARIZONA: Hostess Susan (Fearnside) Scholefield (1970-72) has indicated that she will be hosting a get-together for alumnae in the sunny southwest this coming year. For details, contact Susan at sfernen@cox.net.

CALGARY: Hostess Debbie Stocking (1986-87) will soon be issuing invitations to the Alberta alumnae for a February Valentine's lunch. She may be contacted at chelsebeagle@yahoo.ca.

TORONTO: On October 19, 2008, Hostess Brenda Sears (1974-78) welcomed alumnae from the 70s and 80s decade who live in the Greater Toronto area to a lovely brunch at the Brazilian restaurant Casa Mendoca. Friendships were renewed and memories relived as alumnae chatted the afternoon away. It is hoped to extend an invitation to the London area alumnae from the 70s to 80s decades to join this group this coming fall.

VANCOUVER: Our contacts and co-hostesses out west, Sylvia Shiell (1976-79), smshiell@yahoo.ca and , Lisa Bancroft (1972-74), ebancroft@sd43.bc.ca, are planning a spring luncheon for the Alma girls in British Columbia. They will be contacting the girls shortly.

MEXICO: Claudia Baca (1981-82) hosted Kristan (Law) Clark (1980-85) from Canada and several of the Mexican alumnae at her home during the Christmas holidays. It has been suggested that another get-together might be arranged in 2009 in Acapulco for a larger group.

HONG KONG: Alma girls have been meeting in informal gathering in recent years. Sharifa Leung (1984-86) has been asked to host a larger gathering for all those who attended Alma in recent decades.

TRINIDAD: No formal get-togethers have occurred since the January 2005 semi annual when the Trinis hosted a Canadian contingent who visited Trinidad and Tobago. That was a super fete that should be repeated again.

Do you have alumnae news to share?

Please contact us if you have alumnae news that you would like to share. Send your story to Donna Robertson, Vice-President at donnaro@rogers.com.

Would you like to be an alumnae contact in your city? Contact Lara (Masur) Leitch, Branch Promotion at highlandwoods@rogers.com.