Friday Aug. 15 marked the beginning of a three-day get together for Correlieu grads from the year 1974. Attended by approximately 120 people, three days was simply not enough time to fit in chatting with everyone. The last time this group of people saw each other was in 1994, at their twentieth reunion. There was also a ten-year in 1984.Organized by Lark, daughter of the late Andy Motherwell and a handful of grads with specific tasks, the first night saw the grads hold a meet and greet at the Cariboo Pub. A special thanks goes out to Sid and Darlene Cyca for opening up the bar to us for the evening. Darlene herself was a ’74 grad. The room was a beehive of enthusiasm as the grads got a chance to have their pictures taken while catching up on the past. Thanks as well goes to Debi Pelletier and Jim Edwards for holding the cameras during our weekend together.
Day two featured a barbeque/gathering at Legion Beach. Later in the afternoon they decorated the Seniors’ Centre. A colourful archway of the blue and black Correlieu colours met the grads as they entered the venue. Lots of work went into creating posters representing the various schools the grads had attended before high school and a dinner place mat featuring both songs and movies of 1974 adorned each place setting, done up in blue and black colours. Grads and spouses met at 7 p.m. Jim Lust said a few words and acknowledged the grads who are no longer with us. Rob McNabb said grace and the grads enjoyed a night of good food, catered by the Seniors’ Centre staff and salads made by some of the grads, music by Perfect Match from Williams Lake, an amazing photo booth, more pictures, laughs and songs played and sang by fellow grad Loren Halloran, one of which was dedicated as a tribute to Andy Motherwell. Grad’s got a chance to do a line dance courtesy of Halloran’s significant other, Melanie who led a pack of girls through the Achy Breaky Heart song and dance. What fun it was. Later that evening, in true 1974 grad fashion, the grads had an outdoor after grad, bush party. (the location to remain confidential). Lots of pics and again, lots of laughs and more stories.
Day three featured a trip to Barkerville where grads got to once again take in the sights, many of whom had not visited for 20 – 30 years. Visiting grads travelled from across the province, some were local, some from other provinces and a few were from Michigan, Florida and Washington. One comment, when it was over, was there wasn’t enough time to visit with everyone. We needed at least five days.
Two of the grads have offered to take on organizing a 45 grad reunion in 2019. Over all these years there’s nothing more heart-warming than to see everyone getting along over the three day get together. We are now in our late fifties. We got a chance to pick up where we left off 20 years ago. I would encourage other grads to reunite to plan their reunions too. It’s a time for reflection in a great town we still call home
– submitted by Loren Halloran