Resgister for the Reunion (Now) Please
I am talking to hotels about discounts.
The more numbers I have the greater the discount to you.
Some Hotels are entirely booked up for one of various conventions next year at the same time.
I need numbers now, so take a moment to register.
To register, go to WWW.hsbalumni.com .
The reunion is to take place next May 2007, Friday, Sat, Sun/ Victoria day Weekend.
How To Register
1) Go to the www.hsbalumni.com site home page,
2) locate on the right side the icon for "Reunion Sign-up '72 &Friends".
3) Click on it to open. There you will have the registration form.
4) Enter your information.
To see who else has signed up so far, come back to this input point but simply go to the
top bar and click on "Check Guest '72 guest list".
That's it! Those of you who do register can expect upcoming stories, pictures or highlights written about you in a most favourable light in the upcoming weeks.
I do have a lot of pictures from 1968,69,70 ,71, 72 and 73 year book. All of these years can be considered friends of '72 and attend.
Anyone who wishes may comment in the comment input areas of these blog entries. Conversely, should you simply want to send me a msg, send it to mcconnell.leslie@videotron.ca.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Hi Les
The last time I saw you, we were at the
At that time you were working on getting all of us together in some way.
I have heard a number of names mentioned as to who is organizing this reunion, and God bless them and I would love to see them all, - but you are the one who encouraged me sign up.
I know many interested at this time, are trying to find ways to motivate others, - to show next year, over the Victoria Day weekend.
But alas, there is yet another reason -deeper.
I have recently attended the funeral of a MAN, who (unbeknownst to him), was one of my mentors. He was my neighbour - Bob Agnew.
Bob was older than me by four years and a great friend.
His brother, John, was the “best man” for me when I was wed to
Bob had a series of unfortunate health events that led to his death.
The last time I saw him, he was a postman - in
It was only at his funeral that I found out he had a 'Masters degree', in Engineering!
This, modest and telling revelation is one example of WHY we need to ‘Come Together’. (Before, while we are still able and not when it is too late).
We have over the years lost many of our friends, - Dave Crawford, Bob Howarth, Carol Howarth, my sister Jane Kennedy … the list goes on, unfortunately.
I am not trying to be a ‘downer’, but I want to let us all ‘know’, that our "time" is limited in life.
A reunion is the best opportunity to see each other in an environment where there are no (and can be no) pretenses! We can let go the masks of who we have become or try to be –
It is thanks to you and your friends, organizing this timely event, that an old friend of mine has been in touch, after more than thirty years - Nancy McLenaghen.
I won't try to recreate the tremendously interesting and informative years I had at
But, I will mention a few names in hopes that they too, will want to join us one year from now:
Kevin Carlin, Tom Stabb, Brian Stewart, Larry Smith, Tom Howarth, Isabelle Stark, Barry Kaye, Dave Poirier, Brent Butler, Lorel Butler, Bruce Tomilson, Mark McManus, Sandy Leedham, Bruce Bennett, Lenore Cutway, Nancy Murphy, Pasty Donna, Carol Crawford, Steve Heggison, Gary Reid, Ricky Hilton, Ernie Laporte, Wayne Reid, Ricky Reid, Euard Reid, The Palmer Boys, John Dial, Fred Green, Doug Miller, Mike Adamaky, Mike Parsons, Mark McManus, Mary Chartrand, Lee-Anne Chartrand, Susan Hayes, Susan Roman,
I can probably go on and on, but my hope is that these people in particular will remember others and INVITE, INVITE, INVITE!
I have purposely not mentioned people who are already on the site. I have also not mentioned spouses as I am sure they will be informed, at least we hope!
I am sure I could write an interesting story of each of the folks mentioned.
Count me in, - God-willing!
Jack Kennedy
Locker 102
Friday, May 26, 2006
Musicians or at least performers from Past, Present and who knows.
Top Left: Kevin Mcilwaine (Photo Gary Shaw)
Top Right: L McConnell vocals(Pay no attention to the belt).
Paul Anderson on base.(Photo by Gary Shaw)
Bottom Left : Sheldon O'Connor
Top Centre: Bruce Craig, Gervase Bushe, and Allan MacDowell.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Today's "open" Question.
I was just on the Classmates.com e-mail with John Dempster and then a nice sounding girl named Susan -( who left Billings before graduating and who married Steve Devlin.)
I sent them, along with others on Classmates a couple of questions, one of which I shall ask you -you, who read this blog with any degree of regularity.
Here is the "open" question:
What student(s) in your highschool years had the greatest effect on your life during those times and more important HOW did they effect you, or how did their effect on you, change or influence who your are?
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I am going to give my answer, but through the "comments button" below.
So if you wish to read my candid response about him/her, you'll have to go to the comments.
I would like your answer too. I am sincerely interested. This is not an easy question to answer honestly, I find. So think seriously before you write.
I was just on the Classmates.com e-mail with John Dempster and then a nice sounding girl named Susan -( who left Billings before graduating and who married Steve Devlin.)
I sent them, along with others on Classmates a couple of questions, one of which I shall ask you -you, who read this blog with any degree of regularity.
Here is the "open" question:
What student(s) in your highschool years had the greatest effect on your life during those times and more important HOW did they effect you, or how did their effect on you, change or influence who your are?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am going to give my answer, but through the "comments button" below.
So if you wish to read my candid response about him/her, you'll have to go to the comments.
I would like your answer too. I am sincerely interested. This is not an easy question to answer honestly, I find. So think seriously before you write.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The Montage Contest
Can you name all the students in this montage from Cheerleaders, Ski Club , Indian Club to present day pictures of some? Go ahead I dare you.
The previous winners were Bruce Bennett and Gervase Bushe, but their task was not to name everyone.
I'll give you here and now the ones in colour pictures:
Top right - The handsome John Saunders, Third Row down second from right- The distinguished Ralf Behrens, Forth Row Down, third from right- The Charming Dr.Vincent Murphy, Fifth Row Down tucked between two ex "Terrace" dwellers -Les McConnell, Second from right Fifth Row, The still lovely Gail Kieran, Row Five First on the Right, the indelible "with a hint of fun" Barry Stephens, Bottom Row second from left 'the ever-wise but a touch on the wild side"-Richard Rankin and finally -bottom row Right, soaring high above the on-looking tourists of Venice Beach California completing a full gainer on the high rings -probably without the net- one of my best friends - Jimmy Williams.
Can you name all the students in this montage from Cheerleaders, Ski Club , Indian Club to present day pictures of some? Go ahead I dare you.
The previous winners were Bruce Bennett and Gervase Bushe, but their task was not to name everyone.
I'll give you here and now the ones in colour pictures:Top right - The handsome John Saunders, Third Row down second from right- The distinguished Ralf Behrens, Forth Row Down, third from right- The Charming Dr.Vincent Murphy, Fifth Row Down tucked between two ex "Terrace" dwellers -Les McConnell, Second from right Fifth Row, The still lovely Gail Kieran, Row Five First on the Right, the indelible "with a hint of fun" Barry Stephens, Bottom Row second from left 'the ever-wise but a touch on the wild side"-Richard Rankin and finally -bottom row Right, soaring high above the on-looking tourists of Venice Beach California completing a full gainer on the high rings -probably without the net- one of my best friends - Jimmy Williams.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Eye of the Beholder
“We don’t give it out.” She looked at once apologetic, but there was no hiding the suspicion.
“ I’m not into computers”, she said.
Off to the frozen food section I went.
What I remember most vividly about those miscast times were- little square pink chewable tablets in a flat yellow pack- they tasted like soap-THRILLS. It was not the last time I would begrudgingly play the role of co-chaperone in that town, but for a different "best buddy". My oh my, could her "best friend" ever make that gum snap, as she’d smile, with such a twinkle in her eye.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Look to the Present!
It's Heidi before and After (in living colour from Mexico)!
1972 and 2006
Looking Good Heidi!
...before and after.
Well done! How do you do it? I'll just shut up now ...a picture and a thousand words. Let the pictures do the talking.
Note: Heidi Umstadt was kind enough to allow us to publish these. Thank you Heidi.LM
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Look Deep Into The PAST
Look Deeply Into The Past!
(Right Picture Grade 8-2)
The year is 1967 -September. Expo 67 just finished a month ago.
Grade seven first year “HIGH SCHOOL”.
The Beatles are experimenting with ‘Meditation’ in India. The Rolling Stones are in the studio creating what will become ‘Jumping Jack Flash’.
Steve and Dave Porier, Robin and Marty Hewitt, Norman and Steve Perry and I have made decisions. We will grow our hair –long.
Our parents have taken to the times in their own fashion. Men are growing side burns. Ladies in the neighborhood wear caftans and practice Yoga. Some also make pottery. The arts are blooming and Viet Nam percolates.
We are Lilliputians, delivered into a land of giants. Mitch Morrison, Bruce Porier (Grade 12) and Bruce Maybury (Grade 11) are names invoked with awe by the girls. Us ‘guys’ have all gone ga-ga over the grade eight /grade nine visions in the halls. Oh –and yes, we still have grade 12 in 1968 and a dress code –for a while. (But that‘s another story –told best by Roddy McManus.)
My home room teacher, new it would seem, a person of color, with meticulous accent and a certain ‘just so’ way of turning pages –especially his bible. He has a smile that calms even the most untamed of little beast. I question openly, almost defiantly, his decision to teach, as his strength so clearly seems to lie in his penchant to preach. All is quiet as he casts his spell – turquoise blue lagoons, diving carefree in the sun. How can one even think of passing notes or being mischievous, when this man is talking? Ah! But therein lies the challenge for Steve, Les, Mike and others. Just don’t get caught! We do so like this Mr. Mullahoo. That is what makes things so difficult. He knows us as he once was. Being very careful not to let it show, he enjoys our place in time.
Then the greatest of contests! The Seniors basket ball games. Mythical beings draped in gold and blue gleaming satin, larger than life . “Swish” –a basket, a massive roar, the rhythmic booming of feet on the benches of the folding bleachers.
Next, a competition of a different order, involving fellowship, angst, loyalty and dread. The Royalty Ball, the Dance, lights flashing, “I can’t Get No… People Are Str…In The White Room”. Girls from the older grades, looking like nothing I have ever seen before. I’m just dazzled. Even the girls from my grade have transformed into wonderful nuances of beauty –each in their own right. I understand for the first time that the adventure of Life has really begun – the music from the speakers stop suddenly. The girls gather in front of the stage. We hear it, the rhythm, the thumping, pounding, the curtains open –a live band! THE HAUNTED 1-2-5! My young friends and I have arrived.
We will never -be - the same again.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Richard Kilpatrick - World Traveller, Troubador, Student of Life.From HSB, some of us went straight out to work, others to University /Cegep. Rick launched himself out into the world.
See also in the HSB Radio shots pictures of Mark Stafford and Brian McInnis.
Well Done Richard.
Everyone else please send more of these into me via e-mail if you prefer snail mail, let me know by e-mail and I'll send my coordinates.
Thanks. Les
Hey buddy - yeah, I've been planning on scanning some old photos - just been caught up with the end of semester here. I tried posting the night Les first emailed us all but I must not have clicked the right buttons - Here's a few I've just scanned - the first one some of us at the school radio station; the second is one of me in Vancouver right after graduation, and the one below it on the same page is me a couple of years ago in Riga, Latvia; the last set of photos, starting at upper left, me '73 Morocco; below left in Nice, France and next to it, also in Nice with Mary Pinnseneault; and the photo on the right is me in Genova, Italy late '70s.
And, here's a couple of poems for the hell of it -
all good things -
Rick
Exposed
A tree quivers
in a melancholic field,
a land desiccated
where the screams
of cut forests are muffled
by duplicity.
I find beauty in this sorrow
and shudder
as separateness
confides in me
and together, we watch
night’s last violet shadow linger
towards dawn
on her red knees,
shame on her lips.
Apparition of the Face of Aphrodite
“The wise man must be wise
before, not after” – Epicharmus
As I walk in the dirty rain
I see her, Bitch Goddess, a superlative
on high heels, full bodied
like a lager made from the sexiest
mountain springs, and I, drunk
that I am, dare to be foolish and come
undone like a Dali canvas dripping
off a Scorpion sky, ask if I could be her slave,
her knave, her male concubine (though not
faithfully in such terms)—yes, it was
coup de foudre (that sudden, overwhelming
numbness called love)—she, a masterpiece
of DNA, graces (I let myself suppose) in embryo. But I gather
myself, wipe them Gypsy Spanish blues
from my lack of face and disappear, hoping
I can disappear, when cherubic boy, perched,
appropriately, in his quiver tree, catches me (his 5-megapixal
Cyber-shot never lies), my harlequin escape hindered