vic high 70

Your Name:
Your Email Address:
Your News:	In about 50 words, tell us what you've been up to in the past 40 years and we will post a precis of your news on the website. (eg., where you live, family, career, interests, favourite experience, biggest learning experience,)


Cecilia Leggett (Beattie) Cecilia has been maried for 37 years and has 4 kids and 7 grandchildren so far. She has worked management and supervisory positions but the majority of her time she has worked alongside her husband, Steve, in their manufacturing businesses. This included 6½ years in the Cook Islands. Cecilia and Steve are currently developing MineralPRO Systems, a unique water treatment system, with one of their sons, just outside Vernon. Cathie Dobbyn Cathie has been married to Vic Anonsen for almost 22 years and together they have one daughter, Kelsey. Cathie has spent all of her working years in Dentistry and has worked in the same office for the last 12 years...an office she describes as "the Disneyland of Dentistry" meaning great staff and great patients. It's such a great place to work, she has no retirement plans for a few years. Vic has an enviable job as a tennis instructor, teaching in warm vacation spots such as Maui and Mexico and possibly even Egypt later this year. Kelsey, a tennis and basketball scholarship recipient, is taking this school year off - but will return to tennis next September. Eric Lister and Judy Lister (Stratton) Eric studied at UVIC after graduation, and he and Judy were married in 1974. They headed off to Winnipeg (where they still reside) so that Judy could finish off her degree in Interior Design. Eric has an LLB from the University of Manitoba and Judy also added a Bachelor of Arts. Eric worked 29 years at a large law firm in Winnipeg and is now with Ag Growth International . Judy's career took her in the direction of volunteer management with five different organizations. She now teaches classroom and internet courses in volunteer management. They have three children, Danica 31, Brodie 28 and Courtney 26. Both love to curl, golf, and travel. In addition they enjoy the theatre and collecting art and Judy is a Pet Therapy volunteer (along with their golden retriever Digger). Linda Grimm (Liimatta) It is hard to believe it was 40 years ago that I graduated from Vic High; a lifetime away. I have been a waitress, clerk, letter carrier, worked in research and in the Biology Dept. at Camosun College. I have a son, 3 grandchildren and am now in Newfoundland running a Bed and Breakfast on the ocean. I will not be able to come to the Reunion, but if your travels take you to the East Coast, and you want to stay in a beautiful Bed and Breakfast, we are 1½ hours from St. Johns. Rosedale Manor B&B Inn, www.rosedalemanor.ca. Cheryl Milne After Grad I got invited to this great party....don't remember much after that! I eventually became a Beach Bum (as I remain today). I tried a bunch of stuff and lived a bunch of places but ended up back on the beach.....so I write poetry and make crafts and laugh everyday. This is going to be GREAT! Roy Benard I remarried recently to Diane Barry and have 2 children from my first marriage. I went to BCIT and ended up in a career in construction as an estimator, project manager and developer. We have moved to Costa Rica and now reside there. I had invested in property back in 1974. Presently in Costa Rica we are attempting to develop the property's final piece but have the project on hold. See www.lomadelsolcr.com. Diane and I love to dance. She is a gold level ballroom dancer and I enjoy Latin dancing. We love our life in the tropics and enjoy the warm weather and water, diving, swimming, photography, nature etc. Helen Pedneault I worked in modeling, waitressing and then government. Married Mike in 1974, moved to Vancouver in 1975 and then back to Victoria in 1980. Had baby girls in 81 & 83. Worked up through the ranks in government, regulating vehicles, guns, liquor and justice. I'm now a semi-retired, empty-nester, policy advisor doing pottery and travel to warm climes. Lawrence Smythe After I finished school I started working to save up money to travel. I continued this process for a number of years. My travels took me across Canada to Europe and the far east to start, on to Mexico and Hawaii, New York etc. After these formative traveling years I discovered my love of mime. With this international profession I continued my travels working here and there on the international scene, Japan, China, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, France, Switzerland, Hungry etc. During Expo 86 in Vancouver I fell in love with a girl from Quebec and moved to Montreal...the rest is history. Lawrence "Laurie" Fawcett After a B.Sc. (Marine Biology) at UVic, I went to Nigeria for two years with CUSO. I married another CUSO Volunteer, returned to BC for medical school, and ended up in Ontario for twenty years as a family doctor. We raised three daughters and separated in 2004, when I moved back to Victoria. Since my return, I have been practising in small northern communities in BC, Nunavut, and the NWT (plus half a year in Vanuatu). I am now working mostly in Masset with the Haida. When not working, I like to boat and kayak. Joan Richardson After Grad, I studied visual art and art history at UVic, UBC and Princeton University. I had the opportunity to do research in the UK, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Homesick for the West Coast, I returned to Vancouver in 1986. I worked at the Diane Farris Gallery and the Vancouver Art Gallery, and lectured at UBC. I met Charles Douglas (Montreal, Toronto) when he was on an IBM trip to Vancouver. Between 1992 and 2003 when we finally landed at our beautiful old home in Victoria, we married, had twin sons, and lived in five homes in three cities. Whew! Now I paint in my studio; Charles consults on provincial databases; David and Michael are making their way through high school. Our family life is rich in art, music and poetry. Lori Alana Gray Taylor Completed a BA in Psychology, trained in Art Therapy, MA in Psychology. Worked as Therapist for 15 years. Moved to Penticton and then to Houston, Texas. Married Terry Taylor, a Jeweller, 22 years ago and have worked with him ever since. We have three children: Tessa 19, Mikaela 17, and Tyson 13. Sorry to miss the reunion--maybe I'll see ya'll at the 50th! Myra Hissink Statham After graduating, I went to UBC, travelled, moved to Vancouver and started a career in Banking (Personal and Commercial). Managed various branches and had Regional appointments. Have been married to Ken Statham, (also a Banker) for 34 years. In 1994, Ken left Banking and bought Wells Can Company. We live in North Vancouver and have three children; Nicole 30, Kyle 27 and Bryan 24. And we now have 1 1/2 grand daughters; Avery 1 and another baby girl due August 19! I retired from Banking in 2008 and am now having a lot of fun in Real Estate. Nonie Caflisch (James) After grad, I attended UVic and travelled Europe with Rod Quin for a year. We moved to the Comox Valley where I started my teaching career in 1974. Young and full of energy we bought into a land cooperative in Merville and built a hand crafted home in the woods where I still live. I have been with my husband John Caflisch, (who came with 3 teenage boys) since 1980. We have a son, Nathan 26 and a daughter, Olivia 25. In 1991, John, our children and I travelled for a year in Mexico and Central America. I am still teaching and loving it, skiing in the winter and boating in the summer. Its a good life! Peter Rabey After graduation it was work, then traveled in Europe. Further education took place in Chicago. I have been involved in Christian ministry for 35 years and have lived and worked in Honolulu, Nassau Bahamas, Chicago, San Francisco and back to Victoria in 1985. Then in 1996 I moved to Courtenay to be the Senior Pastor of a church there. Have been married for 35 years to Sandy and we have two children, Tim (30), Sharon (25) and two awesome grandsons! Leslie Merrell (Pattison) Since I was in the Future Teachers' Club, I went on to university and got a teaching degree. I taught for two years in Merritt and then moved to Kelowna where I taught for 34 more years. I mainly taught grades 3 and 4. I retired in June of 2009. Along the way I married a wonderful man, Jeff. We have been married 21 years now. We spend time golfing together. We are involved with the Kelowna Gyro Club. I am busy the reunion weekend, volunteering to help with the dance show where I take jazz dancing. This keeps me fit. I will think of you all and perhaps I might hear from some of you. Cheers! Grant Price and Corinne Price (Weich) Corinne and I started dating at the end of grade 12 and got married after I graduated from UVic. We have 2 girls (Jennifer 31 and Sabrina 29). Jenn is married with 2 sons...and living in Victoria with her husband Brian. So lots of time with grand-kids. Sabrina is still single and enjoying life in Calgary. Corinne and I both worked for the BC gov't over 30 years and are retired now. We moved up to the Cowichan Valley after we retired to be closer to our cabin on Shawnigan (where the whole family "enjoys every water sport known to man"), plus closer to Corinne's sail boat moored at Cowichan Bay. We are both very happy and healthy...enjoying family, friends, sports and travel. Connie Halbert The Cole's Notes version of my life in the last 40 years: I graduated from York University with a Masters in Environmental Studies (Urban Planning), then worked in Victoria for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. I met and married Bruce Morgan, had two girls (now 23 and 22), quit work to be a stay at home mom, started consulting, got divorced, moved to Chilliwack 3 years ago to work as a Planner for the Fraser Valley Regional District, and now am working as the Planner for the City of White Rock. I started Dragon Boating 3 years ago. Last year I competed with the women's and the mixed team for Zone 3 at the BC Seniors in Richmond - both teams won gold. Carell Doerrbecker In high school I dreamed of being married with children, living by the water and working as either a vet or a hairdresser. Now, 40 years later, I've been married for 29 years with two daughters, live in Toronto a block from Lake Ontario, and have a busy dog grooming business. In between I've dragon boated, travelled, ran, belly danced, and done some creative writing, gardening, and contemplative photography. I've also done things I never dreamed of like practicing Tibetan Buddhism for over 20 years. Ron Stubbington I worked for the Victoria Fire Department for 33 years retiring 2 years ago. I was married and had two boys. I am now living common law with my partner Penny. I have 3 grandchildren. A few years ago I bought a sailboat in Greece and have been sailing there each year. Last year I sailed from Greece across the Mediterranean and then across the Atlantic arriving in St. Lucia. I just returned from moving the boat from St. Lucia to Trinidad. Penny and I both dragon boat in Victoria. Gregory Paul Hartnell My best memories of Vic High were doing art in Michael Hemming's art room, discovering the Pre-Raphaelites in Mrs. de Villiers' literature class and solving all the world's problems in Tommy Mayne's history class. After working for our family hotel business and on my own as a tile and marble setter for the better part of a lifetime, I finally settled down to become a happily married man in 2001. Now married to Dawn Elizabeth Keough, I reside in Rockland, doing organic vegetable gardening, home stewardship, picture painting, graphic work, mosaics, writing letters, and occasional blogging at www.gregoryhartnell.wordpress.com and www.goyodelarosa.wordpress.com. Denis Gaudet BSc (1976) MS (1979), PhD (1982). I've been a research scientist with the Canadian Government in Lethbridge, AB, for the past 30 years, working mostly on host-parasite interactions between wheat and wheat pathogens. I have been married to Elly Webster (Fernie, BC) for 24 years and have 2 children. We will retire soon back in Victoria and pursue other interests. I like to run marathons and ultras, and I coach track and field. Also love hiking and travel. Regretably, I will miss the reunion. Good luck to all and have fun! David Ahlers "Life is too much without me" University was too early for me in 1970. I went on to become a second generation logger and being part of our unsustainable despoilation of our priceless resource for the better part of 14 years. Truly a reality check. Before I moved on I managed to finish, of all things, a log home at Lake Cowichan; energy efficient and a landmark. I never lived in it but it taught me building skills. From 84 until now, in Victoria, I have been a home renovator; and always of integrity and sustainability. I was married to a wonderful person for 20 years, and I have a son and daughter of whom I am deeply proud. I was an active environmentalist for 7 years. I have some regrets and with some forfeit; humility. I'm glad I mostly did it my way. Now I would like to pass on the knowledge so hard won. I met Ron Blasner on a job in 2000 and had coffee with him. Such a kind and wonderful person who's humanity touched me for a lifetime in his Math 11 class. Thanks Ron. Star Elliott (Cooke) This June 26th I have been married 39 years to the same man that caused me to skip 67 classes of my final senior year. We built a home on a couple of acres in Honeymoon Bay. We have a daughter 37 and a son 35. Jim is now retired and I will retire in 2 years after 30 years with Canada Post. YAHOOO. I love golf and travel and mix the two a lot. I am sorry to miss everyone at the reunion but I will be in Disneyland with my 2 grand-daughters, something I would not miss for the world. Take care everyone and I will see you at our 50th. Ray Benard I will not be able to make it as business in Costa Rica keeps me back. However I am moving back to Victoria in a few weeks for a few years to ride out the current economic downturn which has effected C R real estate. If you are ever in Costa Rica, or interested in retirement or investment in C R I can help. Feel free to ask me any travel questions as well. There is a lot of interest in a tropical, safe, stable, cheap, retirement location where income is not taxed. I will be giving Seminars on the subject while in Canada in the future. Also I have my ocean view place near the beach, for rent.......TC and Craiglist add coming soon. Have a great reunion! Pictures & info: Contact me triroy@hotmail.com. I am now single too......Life changes. David Osborn Learning is a most important task and a most wonderful Gift. My Dad affectionately referred to me as a "professional student" and my Granny used to say, "Learning is never a burden lad, you can carry it anywhere!" Well, here I am still at school; and hopefully sharing that which I am learning and have learned along the way. My formal journey of learning is a meandering path: beginning with teacher training and a BA from UVic and Open Learning; a diploma in ministerial training in California; followed by a diploma in Family Therapy; training in Conflict Resolution; and other related points of study. Most recently, I completed a Masters program from St. Francis Xavier, integrating my work with Restorative Justice. Qualicum Beach has been my home since the early seventies and I have worked in many schools in our district: initially, as a Child and Youth Care Worker; then, as a Special Education Teacher; and presently, as a School Counsellor. Currently, I'm working with QBES, AES, BES, and occasionally FBS. This year, I'm also working with the District's Drug & Alcohol Review Committee. On my home side, my wife, Carrie, another learner (the "WOW Bus lady" as many of you know her), my son, Brayden and I are very thankful to be living in beautiful Qualicum Beach and for all that it provides for us as a family. So here I am, still at school and still learning. DAVID'S HOME PAGE: http://members.shaw.ca/starrgazer/index.htm.