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We encourage all attendees to take a few minutes to add their reunion comments to the guestbook. |
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| WRAP UP REPORT | |
Kids from the Hall Reunion a magic weekend for 275 Akaitcho Alumni (July 3, 2001) -- It was remarkable weekend, full of hugs, handshakes, memories and friendships renewed, for the estimated 275 students and staff who gathered for the Akaitcho Hall Reunion in Yellowknife June 29 - July 1. Alumni from almost every community of the NWT, several Nunavut communities, six provinces and even the United States (Wisconsin) responded to the call to celebrate 36 years of influence and impact Akaitcho Hall has had on Northern education. Several staff joined their former students for the two day event. The weekend started with a big party Friday night at the Elks Hall and dancing to the tunes of the 1950s, 60s and on with musicians Kevin Mackie, Marc Whitford. Tony Buggins and others, who made great music for dances at Akaitcho and Sir John during their days in the Hall. Saturday was the day for stories and renewing personal friendships. Emotions and tears flowed as many met by surprise. Alumni walked through picture and trophy displays set up at Sir John, and toured the city - many for the first time since leaving Yellowknife decades ago. A highlight for many was walking the old halls and dorms of Akaitcho Hall itself. Today, it stands silent, used mainly as a storage site for surplus furniture and equipment, many areas altered to make room for classes during Sir John Franklin's recent renovation. The fate of the building is still uncertain; it has not yet been formally transferred from the GNWT to the Yellowknife Public School Board, and no firm decision on renovating, or demolition, has been made. Saturday evening was the "main event" with a banquet in the Sir John gym, MC'd by the Hon Tony Whitford, now Speaker of the NWT Legislative Assembly, and an alumni from the very first year of Akaitcho Hall. Speakers included Nunavut MP and alumni Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, former Superintendent Melody McLeod and student Richard Mercredi. Bill Braden, a Yellowknife MLA and Sir John student (1970-72) and one of the organizing committee, introduced the students and staff of Sir John who helped put together the "Akaitcho Gazette", a 32-page remembrance of Akaitcho Hall's years. It was left to Margaret Begg (1971-74) who started the whole reunion project to thank everyone for responding so warmly and generously to supporting and attending the event. The efforts of coordinator Kathryn Youngblut, plus the contributions of the staff at Sir John and the YK Public School Board, made it all possible. Sunday, July 1, started with about 40 of the alumni joining together to show the colours and spirit of Akaitcho in the Canada Day Parade through downtown Yellowknife. Flanked by two convertibles (contributed by Tony Chang and Marilyn Paradis) they were the noisiest and proudest entry in the parade. After taking in other Canada Day events, at least 150 gathered back at the Hall Sunday afternoon for a brief ceremony and prayer to offer thanks for the event, for the influence the Hall has had on thousands of young Northern lives, and to remember those no longer with us. A Mayday tree was planted near the Hall's main door, and the words of a plaque unveiled. Those words were on the wall near Sir John's main office for many years, and will be remembered in a bronze plaque to be placed near the tree: Your old men shall dream dreams, Dedicated to the staff and Students of
Akaitcho Hall The Organizing Committee thanks everyone who came and helped make the event such an overwhelming success. Watch for a pictorial of some of the events to be posted on this site. Please direct any questions you may have about the reunion to: Linda Whitford |
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| Update | |
Online Pictorial - sorry for the delay - these are large graphic files and may take a while to load for those of you still using a dial-in service. |
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| Alumni Listing | |
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| Web Pages of Former Students and Staff | ||
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| Guest Book | ||
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We encourage all attendees to take a few minutes to add their reunion comments to the guestbook. |
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Accommodation in Yellowknife 