Grads and staff from past decades are returning to Barrie by the thousands this week as one of Ontario’s oldest educational institutions prepares to close its doors for good.
Organizers for the Barrie Central reunion say they have received registrants from across Canada, the U.S., Australia and Europe for reunion this week starting on Thursday, May 26 to Sunday, May 29.
The high school is scheduled to shut down in June after 173 years of continuous operation.
Opened in 1843, Barrie Central graduated thousands of students, many who will return for one more memorable visit.
Current and former Central students, staff and faculty are invited to take part in a “Celebrate BCC Reunion” this week at the school and various venues across the city.
Joanne McLaurin is a Central grad, the mother of Central grads, the daughter of a retired Central teacher and has herself been a BCC faculty member.
She is now Chairperson of the Celebrate BCC Reunion committee and is concerned that some returnees will miss out on the fun by waiting too long to register for planned events.
“We are expecting a large number of people that weekend and it will be first come first served for many capacity events," said McLaurin. "For example, there are only 900 seats in the W.A. Fisher Auditorium so if someone fails to reserve a seat in time for one of the two final assemblies, the dance and pub night events, they will miss out.”
The Reunion Committee has released a schedule of events for the weekend which includes:
Wednesday May 25 Registration pick up BCC cafeteria 3 pm - 6 pm
Thursday May 26 Registration pick up BCC cafeteria 3 pm – 6 pm
Classics Club (Latin) Reception Cafeteria 7 pm
Friday May 27 Registration pick up BCC cafeteria 3 - 6pm
Open House/Tours Throughout the school 3 pm – 7 pm
Staff/Faculty Meet & Greet Sticky Fingers Bar 3:30 pm
Decade Reunion Room Double Gym 3 - 6 pm
Dance The Night Away Army, Navy Air Force Club 7:30 pm – 12 Mid.
Saturday May 28 Registration pick up BCC Cafeteria 9 am – 4 pm
Open House/Tours Throughout the school 9 am – 6pm
Decade Reunion Room Double Gym 9 am – 5 pm
Memory Merchandise Sales BCC Cafeteria 9 am – 4 pm
Celebration Assembly #1 W.A, Fisher Auditorium 10 am – 1130 am
Barbecue Lunch Red Storey Field 1130 am
Alumni Field Photo Red Storey Field 1230 pm
Celebration Assembly #2 W.A. Fisher Auditorium 200 pm
Drop in Coffee/Talent Show Library 430 pm – 6 pm
Pub Night & Dance Army, Navy, Air Force Club 830 pm – 12 mid
Sunday May 29 Open House 9 am – 1 pm
Pancake Breakfast BCC Cafeteria 9:30 - 11:30am
Alumni Basketball Double Gyms 10 am - 12 noon
Alumni Volleyball tournament Double Gyms 1 pm
Alumni Band Recital W.A. Fisher Auditorium 1 pm – 2 pm
Band Reunion Auditorium & Music Rooms 2 – 4 pm
McLaurin wishes to remind everyone that all tickets, information and registration details are available at www.celebrateBCC2016.com. or by calling 705-796-8194.
