My high school days in Greenwood were quite different. Sacred Heart Catholic School went up to grade eight, and after that the students went to Greenwood High School. I originally went to United Church School in grade one in 1942 and I was transferred to Greenwood Elementary School after. I believe grade two. So, I do remember most of the students that got together at grade nine. All was good until our school burnt down December 31st, 1951. The balance of the year was commuting to Grand Forks. I was in grade eleven at the time.
During the summers, I had a job in a fish cannery on the Skeena River. When I returned from the cannery in 1952, I was confronted by the principal whether I was going to attend the high school there. I naturally said that I expect to but what is the problem? I was told that everyone made an arrangement to finish their schooling elsewhere, and I would be the only there. As I was too immature to do anything, I decided to stay if they will have me. Unfortunately, as I was the only one there, they just gave me some textbooks to study on my own which was not a good situation for me. However, I did what I could and took my government exams, and passed them all except English. Because of it, I did not complete my high school and I don’t have a diploma to this day.
When my daughter was entering high school in Vancouver, I told her about my experience and I would beat her to a diploma. When she was graduating, she said, “I beat you!”
Recently, I had an occasion to meet my old high school teacher named Louie Hanic and Shirley McDonald. I think they were married after leaving Greenwood. They live in Vancouver and I told them about the reunion that you had in Richmond a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I did not meet up with them but they tell me that they were there.
The reason why in the grad photo there were only two graduates in 1953? What happened was that Anna Nakagawa was taking the general program and I was taking the university program. I believe that, in order to graduate with the university program, there were certain courses that were prerequisites. English was one of them.
As I understood at the time, since they always had a graduating class, the grad committee thought that they will have a tea gathering at the school. Did you notice that I was wearing a brand new suit? Pretty good looking kid, aye?
Gordon Mayede, Sales Associate Advisor, CFP, CLU
Sun Life Financial
Burnaby, B.C.