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BIO Form ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please feel free to submit using this form, or send an email, if you would rather. Any and all info is welcome and will be posted and/ or updated as it arrives. |
| Patricia Baker Well, I have not exactly achieved fame and fortune over the last 25 years. I did graduate from the psychiatric nursing program at Wascana in 1981, then went back to North Battleford to work a few years before going back to school to finish the diploma nursing program. After that I moved to Grande Prairie and worked in their psychiatric unit. In 1987 I got married and moved to Portland OR. I was able to get a job on the psych crisis unit at a university hospital, which I really liked at the time. When I got divorced in 1995, I decided to stay in Portland. In 1996, I took a job in the medical department in a surgical specialties unit at another large hospital. I’ve managed to travel to France, England, Mexico, eastern Canada, and western US. Well, and western Canada those years when I drove home to visit. I’d hoped to be better travelled by now, but the pitfall in living so far from home is that I tend to spend most of my holidays going back. Hope the reunion arrangements are going as smoothly as they can, and I’ll see you in August. |
| Alan Braun Over the years... In 1979 I met a waitress at my favorite coffee spot in North Battleford, the Wayfare. Wanda and I met Mar 1, and married June 1! She is so perfect. During that brief dating experience I met her parents who were not happy with me being a baptist since she was a Jehovah's Witness. They disowned her and never did attend our wedding or be involved with our family. I tell you this because this radically affected my life. In 1980 I got a job as a Full-time city fire fighter at the North Battleford Fire Department. It was a great job. During the time there I spent more and more time studying the Bible. I went to Theological School in Saskatoon on my days off from the fire hall. In 1980, Wanda and I had our first child, Richard. He was 3lbs 13oz but he survived. In 1982, our second son, Simon was born with 6 toes on one foot. It was cute. In 1984, our daughter, Sharon was born, being just beautiful. In 1985, or third son, Jerry was born with the biggest feet I ever saw on a kid. He is now 6ft 2in with size 14 shoes! In the spring of 1989 I quit the fire hall and decided to become a pastor of a church. Only I had no church to go to. So Wanda and I drove from North Battleford to Abbotsford in BC trying to figure out where we should go. Eventually I received a call to see if I would be interested to go to a small old church in Penticton, BC. There were 10 people in the church. The usher was 94 years old! We decided this is where the Lord was sending us. So we packed up all of our kids and belongings and moved to Beverly...I mean Penticton. The church was great. I preached and we loved on the community. The church started to grow. We ended up out growing our old church building. We sold it and moved to a larger facility. The church kept growing. We evenually bought 76.2 acres of land where we are going to build a church that seats about 2000 poeple. Right now we have about 400+ in our congregation. I love my work. We have seen so many families be put back together, children become mature, teens get of drugs and the list goes on. I believe that I am doing exactly what I should be doing with my life. I would have never believed I would be doing this because at the Comprehensive I was so shy I could not public speak in any way. I made it out of school with a 54% grade average. If you would have asked me what I would do with my life I would have never said, "Some day I will be a pastor of a church and speak to sometimes 1000's of people." To close I would say, my second son, Simon got married to his sweetheart, Shania. On October 30, 2002 they had their first child, baby Emma. She is so cute! This makes me a GRANDFATHER! Wow! Who would have believed it! Thank you for being a part of my life in North Battleford. I will never forget those days. |
| Brian Cook After graduating I stayed in North Battleford for one year. I worked for Road Runner Trailer Company. The following four years I attended the UofS where I received my Bed. In September of that year I started a teaching job in Churchbridge SK. I taught Physical Education and Division 3 Science. Churchbridge was a long distance from NB and most of the people that I knew, so the following year I took a teaching division at Kenaston School, where I again taught mainly Physical Education and Div 3 Science. In 1984 I married Jill Asmus. We live in Kenaston for the first year of our marriage but after that year Jill got a nursing position at the Royal University Hospital, so we moved into Saskatoon. I would spend the next 14 years commuting to Kenaston to teach. For the first four year of out marriage we played hard (ski trips, camping trips, trip to Europe, etc.). In 1987 we stopped renting accommodations and built a house so that we could settle down and have a family. On my birthday in 1989, Jill’s and my son, Chris, was born. In 1992 our daughter, Danielle, was born. We continued to ski, camp, and spend time at Murray Lake with the kids, and have been busy with them all along. It is a bit harder now to go one trips because the kids are busy with many different activities, but we are still getting in a winter ski trip and time at Murray Lake in the summer. In 1992, Kenaston school was rebuit, and added an Industrial Arts shop onto it, so I dropped my Division 3 Science class and picked up the Industrial Arts. In 1999, after teaching 16 years in Kenaston School, I felt that a change might be good for me so I took a position at Lord Asquith School, where I teach mainly IA and grades 10-12 PE. We still live in the same house in Saskatoon, and I commute to Asquith every day. |
| Kathy Cunnimgham After graduating I attended the University of Saskatchewan attaining a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics (1983). I worked for Reitmans (clothing store) from 1980 to 1992, starting out part time through university and then eventually managing a store, until I married in 1992 and transferred to North Battleford store working as assistant manager until fall 1992. I married Paul McAllister in 1990. He works for BASF Chemical Company. We moved to Regina in 1993, and then back here in Sept 1994, where our first child, Sam, was born in November. Emilie was born in 1996, and Devin in 1999. I have been in home-based sales since 1999 (Kids Only Clothing, Colesce, and now Mary Kay Cosmetics). As of July, I am the Canadian Blood Services coordinator for North Battleford. In my free time I chauffeur kids to various activities, go to aerobics, do folk art painting, sew, and read books (some for my book club). |
| Valerie Dalshaug Wow, 25 years. Where does a person begin. In 1977, a started in the College of Education at the UofS. I finished the first year and then worked for the summer at the Sask Hospital as an aide. During that experience I decided that I wasnted to go into nursing, so applied and was accepted in the Diploma of Nursing at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon. I graduated in 1980, and began my nursing career in Meadow Lake. I loved being there and worked for mmore that a year. Then I felt I needed a change, so moved to Edmonton and worked at the General Hospital in Pediatrics. This move was not the greatest, although my job was. After much deliberation I decided to return to Meadow Lake. I stayed again for 13 months, but things were not as they were the first time, so I moved to Saskatoon in 1983. I began working at City Hospital in the Coronary Care unit. I loved this job and remained there for four years, then made the move to Intensive Care, which I found to be my element. I worked there until 1997. I then decided the driving was too much. Melfort was closer and I went there to work and am now working casual in the long-term care, a big change from intensive care, but a great job none-the-less. In 1986, I was given a leave of absence from my job and a girl friend and I set out on a seven-month-long South Pacific adventure, we went to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cooks Islands, and Hawaii, ending out trip in Vancouver at the 1986 Expo. It was a dream come true, and a trip I will remember always. Then, in 1987, disease struck our family when my dear mother became ill and passed away to leukemia. It was a dreadful time for us all and we wondered how we would carry on, but somehow a person finds a way. Life continued on as usual for the next few years. I spent quite a lot of time with Dad in NB, and was working full time in Saskatoon. I seemed to work long enough to go on another holiday, so was luck enough to get to many places around the world. Then, in 1991, a girl friend in Australia asked for to come back so I decided that I would venture there again. This time no one was able to fit it in to their schedule, so I headed off alone. I stopped first in Bangkok. This was quite an awesome experience, as I didn’t speak the language and was all alone, but you don’t take long to meet new friends and find your way around. My next stop was Hong Kong, and then Communist China and the opportunity to walk on the Great Wall, walk in Tianamen Square, and visit many other places in Beijing. From there I went to Australia and was there for about two and a half months. On returning home I decided that I was going to be staying in Saskatoon, so I bought a condominium on the east side of the city. Then in August of that year, the greatest thing yet happened to me. I ws set up on a blind date and met the man of my dreams. Jack and I were married on 0ctober 30, 1993, in Kinistino, in the same church that my parents were married in 35 years earlier. We honeymooned in Hawaii for 2 weeks, then returned home and now live on our farm south of Meskanaw, SK. Our lives were to change again, and on June 16, 1994, our son, Regan John, was born, we didn’t know life could be so great until the arrival of our daughter, Morgan Norma, on August 12, 1996. Our family was then complete. We are a grain farm. We did have hogs at one time, but due to unfortunate circumstances the barn burned and now we have no lifestock, which is okay with us as it gives a person more freedom. Jack also cleans grain in the winter, so is busy most of the year. Our life seems to be with the kids doing their things now – hockey, ball, soccer, and music for Regan. He is in grade 2 and loving it. I just hope it stays that way. Morgan is in kindergarten and thinks it is the very best thing going. She is also in dance, Sparks, and also music. We are very lucky to have out music teacher in the family: Jack’s mom teaches. I curl a bit now, usually when we have bonspiels at our rink in Meskanaw. Was, as a family, like to go camping in the summer, though not as much as the kids and I would like. We got to Waskasieu for 2-3 weeks every summer. Jack goes back and forth to the farm doing what needs to be done, and the kids and I just hang out there. We also try to get in as many golf games as possible. It is difficult now, as the kids get older, but soon they will golf, too. Regan has taken it up and feels it is the best, next to hockey, which pleases his dad and his grandpa Bruce. Well, I guess that is about all I can think of to fill you in on 25 years. I am looking forward to this reunion. See you soon. |
| Terry Emmerson Since graduating, I spent one year at Lethbridge Community College. Then I moved to Edmonton in 1980. This is where I met my beautiful wife, Jennifer, and we have just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. We have a six-year-old son, Sean, to share our life with. Winter sees us skiing out at Big White, or taking a break from winter either in Hawaii of Plays del Carman. Summer sees us golfing and camping, utilizing our boat as much as possible. I have my own electrical contracting business that also keeps me busy. Life has been good. |
| Brent Gristwood WHAT HAVE I DONE SINCE GRADUATION??? Life has been good. I’ve been enjoying it every day. Right after Graduation, I did take a holiday from the high stress of school. Then on the 4th of July, 1977, I landed a job as a drafts person for a local company, Tri-City Surveys Ltd. Tri-City Surveys Ltd. is a registered land surveying company in the Province of Saskatchewan, and they do a wide variety of surveys, which include road surveys, section line surveys, lake shore developments, oil surveys, gas line, power and telephone right of ways, urban developments, and topographic surveys. It was (and still is my job) to take the field information, and create a drawing that shows all the information that the surveys crews did. When I first started, all my plans had to be done manually, which is first drawn in pencil, then re-traced with an ink pen. Believe me, this is one task that you wanted to do right the first time. Then, in the mid to late Eighties, our company bought their first computer (I think is was about $23,000), and man, I can remember thinking, this is going to be a jump into the future. Well, it was great, but boy did it take a lot of time to key in the data, as everything was in a different language. The first computer in my office was an 8088, with 2mb of ram and a 10mb hard drive. WHAT A MACHINE!!! However, as the years went by, and technology advanced, now I have access to a 800mghz PC, 256mb ram, 32mb Video Card, and a 40gigabyte hard drive (which according to today’s standards, is OUT OF DATE!). Along with all of the advancements, new interests sparked, and I got involved in writing programs for our staff to use. To date, I still enjoy my job, don’t get me wrong though, some days are the real sh__s!. Yet, I can still take pride in the product that I create, and it is even better when you have other offices asking for your help with their problems. This year I have completed, and will be receiving my 25 Year Award with Tri-City Surveys Ltd. On the personal side, I was married from 1979 to 1986. In that time I became a father to a son, Jeffrey (21), and a daughter Jennifer (18). These two children live in Ontario with their mother. On August 1st, 1987, I married Linda, whom which we have the pleasure of sharing two children, Brad (22) and Rebekka (11). Since about 1988-89, we have been spending most of our weekends and summers at Turtle Lake, which is where we bought a small cabin and lot. Since our initial investment, our little “get-a-way” has grown from 480 sq. ft to 800 sq. ft., and we have loved every minute of it. Our daughter Rebekka keeps us active, being involved in soccer and hockey; however, she still gives us a chance to enjoy our own interests, such as bowling, darts, TV. Life has been good, and with the right people around you, it gets even better. As I reflect back on everything, I wouldn’t change a thing, as it has made me who I am today. Right from the first time I ever skipped school (Kindergarten) with Dale Frazer, to this very day, I am happy with things that have happen to me. |
| Robert Jans After high school, I moved to the Calgary area for a couple years. Pretty much just bummed around, just enjoyed being out of school. Worked at a gas station, drove truck, that type of thing. I moved back to the North Battleford area in early 79. Drove mail truck for a while till I bought some land and tried my hand at farming at Medstead. That would have been about 81 or so, I guess. Time flies when you get old. I met my wife, Bonnie Elton from Mortlach,SK, in the fall of 1982. (She says it was during deer hunting season)and we got married in November of 83. At the time I was still doing anything I could except now it was trying to pay for the farm :) Our daughter, Sara, was born in May of 85. She's been a good kid. Hard to believe she's just about ready to graduate. Bonnie's brother had been an instructor at the Saskatchewan Technical Institute in Moose Jaw. Bonnie convinced me to apply for the computer program as a mature student. I was accepted in the fall of 86 and we moved to Moose Jaw. We also sold my farm at that time. Our son, Aubrey, was born in April of 1988 while I was on a work term getting some hands-on experience with programming for the Department of Indian Affairs in Meadow Lake. I graduated in the fall of 1988 and went to work at SGI as a Programmer Trainee. Well, time flies and eventually I'm on my own as a contract programmer working the Workers Compensation Board. They had an opening for an Assistant Database Administrator which I applied for. I started working for them in December of 1995. On December 13th, 1997, I went to my first day of work in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bonnie, the kids and our 2 cats joined me in January of 98. In May of 1998, I changed jobs, still staying in Salt Lake. A year later, the company I was working for (3rd largest grocery chain in the US) was bought out by an grocery chain called Albertson's. The new company is the 2nd largest grocery chain in the US and is a Fortune 50 company. Having said all that, I'll bet most Canadians would still not know who they are. I hadn't heard of them till we moved down here but I've heard of the number 3 company..... They're called Safeway :) Anyhow, to make a long story short, We're planning on staying down here. We've just bought a house and are just setting in. That's why we didn't make the reunion. We got the keys at 4:30 on July 29th and promptly started moving. We did get up to Canada though but didn't arrive at my folk's place in Marsden till just about midnight on August 3rd. Since that's still a couple hours away from Meota, I had to accept the fact that I missed seeing everyone. |
| Nola Keeler I am now back at my home in Whitehorse Yukon a few months after the reunion. I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the reunion and seeing all of you again. Although I have to say that a couple of times I found myself looking around the room wondering what all these middle-aged people were doing! While I remain young at heart, I fear my wrinkles have marched on to my face without bothering to inform me. But we all look great if I may say so. So what have I been up to for the past 25 years? After high school, I moved to Saskatoon for two years where I went to university. Then I moved to Halifax and studied law at Dalhousie University. I graduated in 1982 and then moved to Edmonton where I began a rather boring career as a lawyer. At first I thought it was just the firm I was working with, so I moved to another, very large, firm. I worked with some great people, had some wonderful experiences and of course, was fairly nicely compensated for it. But after 7 years of trying to make it a little more interesting, I decided I just couldn’t waste any more life on being a lawyer. I was bored stiff during the day and stressed out at night when I got home. A deadly combination. I took a few months off to ponder my options. I ended up applying for a job as a fund raiser with the Canadian Diabetes Association in Edmonton. I had been doing some fundraising as a volunteer board member for a theatre company in Edmonton. It was fun so I thought I would give it a chance. I worked there for 2 years organizing their door to door campaign, as well as raffles, public presentations, corporate and individual fundraising. Then a gentleman by the name of Joe Shoctor called me. He was the founder of the Citadel theatre in Edmonton. It’s the third largest theatre in Canada. He wanted to talk to me about being in charge of fundraising for his theatre. I love live theatre! It is a passion of mine. The chance to go and work for the Citadel was a dream come true. I started work there and it was wonderful/frustrating/stressful/fun. In 1993, my fiancé Michael Clark was accepted to the National Theatre School’s directing program in Montreal. So I left my dream job to move to the greatest city in Canada. We had a wonderful year in Montreal. I attended French language school and returned home pretty much bilingual [although I have lost most of it by now!]. We also developed a love of real Montreal bagels, maple syrup and Quebec culture. I would move back there in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself. We moved back to Edmonton where there was more opportunity for Michael to make a go of it in theatre. He worked as a freelance director and I got a job fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society. It was a fantastic job with amazing people. In 1994, Michael and I got married. In 1996, our daughter Madeline was born. I went back to work while Michael attended the University of Alberta and received his Masters of Fine Arts in directing. In 1999, our son Declan was born. When he was one month old, we moved to Whitehorse. Michael got a job as artistic director of Nakai Theatre here. I had never been to Whitehorse before so we weren’t too sure what life would hold for us up here. But it is a great place to live. The winters are no worse than Edmonton or Saskatchewan. The days are a little shorter in the winter than I am used to but the light we get in the summer more than makes up for that. It is a great place for families and my children love it here. It’s also a great place for opportunity. When Declan was about a year old, I met some people at the CBC Radio. I ended up going in and doing an audition tape for them. Before I knew it, they had hired me to fill in as host of two of their shows. It’s a great gig for me. I work on a casual basis so when someone is sick or on holidays, they give me a call. If I can do it and get child care, then I go in. If I’d rather not for whatever reason, then there’s no obligation. I’ve actually put in quite a bit of time there over the last two years. They’ve even got me filling in as a reporter from time to time. And next week I’ll be reading the news at 4:30 and 5:30. So life is good up here in the frozen north. How much longer we will stay here I can’t say. The nature of Michael’s work is such that he will want to move to another theatre company in the next few years so that he can “continue to grow as an artist” [roll your eyes here!] But for now we are enjoying the good life in Whitehorse although we miss things like movies [only 4 screens here], good restaurants, favorite junk food like Orange Julius and discount shopping at Costco! We get back to Saskatchewan to see my folks in Saskatoon at least once a year so we try to get our fill of all those things when we are back. Here’s hoping all of you are healthy and happy. Please let me know if you ever come to Whitehorse. We’d love to show you around! |
| Ursula Meisel In the 25 years since graduation, I have (in no particular order): ▪ attended university (77-79, 81-83, 96, 97, 98) ▪ met and married a lovely man (01/84) ▪ had three children (11/84, 09/89, 01/94) ▪ grown 2 inches taller ▪ lived in St. John’s, Nfld (86-89), and Vancouver, BC (89-93) ▪ offered child care in my home ▪ buried my father (04/2001) ▪ discovered that you can fix almost anything with chocolate, and that you can’t fix some things at all ▪ come to appreciate “that awful Classical music” ▪ found a way to be paid to read ▪ bought my first new car (96) ▪ bought an old house (93) and embarked on The Endless Renovation. Project 2002, the bathroom. Beyond the obligatory stint waiting tables, I have been honing reading/ writing/ copy editing skills all my working life, and it is, frankly, the only thing I am truly fit for. I have a number of regular publications and editors I work for on a freelance basis, but not enough, and there is still a frustrating lag between the job just completed and the next one to come. In between I read for university students. Not exactly lucrative, but often entertaining! When I am not reading for profit, I am reading for fun. The big passions -- chocolate, children, and a good book. I have found that, as much as has changed, I still like dancing, a good joke, the rush when something new makes sense, and the Grease soundtrack. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Reunion. Hope we needn’t wait another 25 years to do it again. |
| Rana Moar I graduated from the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton, in 1983 and am still a practicing RN. I met my husband in North Battleford when I was home for a weekend. My husband was with the Department of National Defense, he too, was visiting friends in North Battleford. After I graduated from nursing, we were married and lived in Northern Alberta. From there we were transferred to Germany, and we spent four years in Bavaria/ Schwarzwald. Our son, Steven was six weeks old when we moved to Europe. I worked in the Nato Hospital in Lahr. Our son was four when we returned to Canada, and spoke no English! Steve had a nanny and attended German school. We were then transferred to Comox, BC and spent 5 years there. I worked with the military during the Operation Desert Storm. From Vancouver Island, we were then transferred to northern Ontario. Our transfer to Ontario was short lived, as 14 months later we were moving again to Edmonton. We spent 3 years there and moved to Victoria five years ago. My husband has now retired from the Department a year ago as he was injured in the Middle East during a tour in 1999. I am still working as a RN in a private intermediate care facility. Our son is starting university this fall here in Victoria. I am fortunate as I have nursed across Canada and in Europe. It was quite the experience to live in Germany, and travel Europe. I have worked in a variety of positions but am now happy to be with the "old folks." I always have an interesting shift! I try to get home at least once a year as my parents still live in the Battleford's. Hard to believe that sums up 25 years. When one sits back and counts the years, the number seems correct but in reality, it can't be that long! |
| Christine Nickel Twenty-five years seems like an enormous amount of time to summarize; yet the time has just flown by. I have two beautiful daughters, Kareena (10 years old) and Brianna (15 years old). My husband and I live in Red Deer, Alberta. I teach senior biology aaat Lindsay Thurber High School and Bob is President of Westcan Malting in Alix, Alberta. After graduation in 1977 I enrolled in the UofS College of Education and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Education (Distinction). I began my reaching career in Warman, Sask. After two years we moved to Biggar, Sask, and I taught at St Gabriel School for 16 years in various grade levels as a music teacher. I completed my Bachelor of Arts (History) in 1986. We moved to Red Deer in 1999. Our ties to Saskatchewan are still strong. My parents retired in North Battleford and my brother has just accepted a teaching position at NBCHS. We have a cabin at Turtle Lake and make the five hour trek all year round for summer fun and snowmobiling. I enjoy gardening, downhill skiing, music, and reading. My daughters dance competitively and I am actively involved with “chauffeuring” them from practices and to competitions. Life proceeds at a hectic pace with music lessons, dance, and chior practices. I wouldn’t have it any other way! All the best for a wonderful reunion. |
| Rick Palik Nov. 1997 Rick got a job with Universal Industries and moved to Lloydminster. Got married May 17, 1980, and moved to Islay, Alta. Sandra got a job at the hospital in Islay in housekeeping. 1981 Rick became a B Pressure Welder and continued to work for Universal Industries. Aug 8, 1991, our first daughter, Tasha, was born. Sandra decided to be a stay-at-home mom. June 20, 1984, our second daughter, Kimberly, was born. June 4, 1987, our first son, Todd, was born. Dec 1989 we moved to Lloydminster. We bought a house on the Saskatchewan side. May 30, 1990, our second son, Troy, was born. We now have a perfect family – 2 girls and 2 boys. As the kids grew we got involved a lot with their sports that they played – ball, soccer, and hockey. We even coached their teams. The kids have aso played on school teams – volleyball, basketball, track and field, floor hockey, and rugby. Sandra volunteered a lot at the kids’ schools when they were little. 1996 Snadra got on as a substitute TA in the public school division. 1998 Sandra for on full time at ES Laird Middle School, where she is still employed. Rick still works for Universal Industries Corp. It will be 25 years Nov 2002. Tasha is working in Costa Rica: she’ll be 21 on Aug 8. Kimberly just graduated from grade 12 and is going to start college in Saskatoon. In Aug she is 18. Todd is going into grade 10. He plays “AAA” hockey, and he is 15. Troy is going into grade 6. He also play competitive hockey, and he is 12. Troy is also juvenile diabetic, insulin dependent. He was diagnosed at the age of 4. |
| Eli Partyka I married 20 years ago to Sherrie Huber whom I met in my last year of my undergrad in Saskatoon a long, long time ago. Sherrie had a flower business in Sydney and has now started English teaching here in Seoul. We had 2 sons ... Jon-Paul, the 19 year old, is finishing up his first year at the University of Sydney; our youngest, Nick, just started 9th grade here in Seoul, Korea, where we now live - we recently moved here from Sydney, Australia. We've lived in Asia the past few years ... India 9 months, Australia a few years and now just moved to South Korea. I have to admit the family took a real liking to Sydney and though we like Seoul, we'll try to get back to Sydney when we can - having a son living in Sydney now is a good excuse to do so. I'm now a marketing manager for a company called Syngenta in Asia Pacific - have been working for the same outfit now for about 18 years (probably so long because nobody else will have me). I've heard it said that people that grow up with no particular skills in any one area, end up in marketing, and that’s me. I do a lot of travel & I've seen pretty much all of Asia and had some very interesting experiences - though I admit India, Pakistan and Western China were probably the most "interesting". Our family's lived in many places even before moving to Asia - 3 years in Calgary, 9 years in Toronto, 3 years in Winnipeg ... would admit that in Canada our time in Toronto was most memorable. We made a lot of great friends & memories there and it tore our hearts out moving away from there because of the roots we put down there. Hope to retire in Southern Ontario one day. Also had the chance to see a lot of things and meet a lot of great people ... though its very challenging work - its also very rewarding !! I took an undergraduate degree in agriculture (what else does a farm boy take?) and a masters, both from Saskatoon. In 1996-98 I also took an MBA from Ivey at the Univ of Western Ontario which nearly killed me with a full time job, lots of travel and family. Glad that’s over with !! One of the greatest joys in my life was coaching kid's competitive hockey and baseball while we lived in Canada and helping coach rugby in Australia. I am very close to my sons and we still enjoy getting out playing a weekend sports (one frustration here in Seoul to find a park or rink !!). I haven't been back to Canada for a few years now and hope to get back sometime early next year to visit friends in Ontario and Calgary & some relatives. My 2 brothers still farm in the Speers/ Richard area & Sherrie's relatives are in Regina. I also miss my 73 MGB I acquired and restored when we lived in Toronto: tried to move it to Aust a few years ago - would have cost me more than the darn car was worth. So the next time any of you are in Korea, make sure you let me know. I make a good tour guide!! I was sorry to miss the reunion - we were right in the middle of moving into a new house here in Seoul and I couldn't make it. But I promise to try my best to make the next re-union (hopefully sooner than 25 years later). |
| Tracy Pytlowany Has it really been 25 years since I lived in North Battleford and spent my days at the Comp? I moved away to Saskatoon in September of 1977 to attend the University of Saskatchewan. I lived and worked in Saskatoon for the next few years, and have lived there for most of the past 25 years. I think it’s a great city! I finished university in 1981 and began working in the area of psychiatric research at Royal University Hospital. I worked there only until the summer of 1982 when Nola Keeler and I took off to Europe. Upon my return to Saskatoon I began work in the area of research again, only this time for federal government Corrections. That particular job involved traveling around Western Canada for a few months. During that time I met my future husband, Dave MacLachlan, who is from Saskatoon. In April of 1984 we were married and I was again briefly unemployed before starting another research job, again with federal Corrections in Saskatoon. Dave and I moved to Waterloo, Ontario in the fall of 1985, where we both attended Wilfrid Laurier University. In 1987 I received my Master of Social Work and worked with the visually impaired in Waterloo for a year. In 1988 we moved back to Saskatoon where I again began work with Corrections, but this time as a social worker. Dave was attending the U of S working on his education degree. Around the time that Dave began teaching, in 1990, our first son was born. His name is Leland and he is now 12 years old and in grade 6. Shortly thereafter we bought our first house which we still live in. It is almost 100 years old and takes up a great deal of our time and money! In 1992 I left federal Corrections and moved to a half time job with Saskatoon District Health, working in Child and Youth Mental Health Services. It is a great job and I am happy to still be there, working half time. In 1995 our second son was born. His name is Rowan and he is now 7 years old and in grade 1. Since I began working part time, I have done a bit of teaching for the University of Regina and I work as a booking agent for a friend of mine who is a children’s entertainer. I am thankful to look back over the past 25 years and reflect on a lot of good times. Dave and I have been to Europe twice, once with both the boys. The four of us have been on winter holidays to warm weather a few times. We have traveled in almost every province. Last summer we made it to the north and visited Nola Keeler and her family in Whitehorse! Both of us have careers we like and mostly good health (aside from grey hair). Our boys are very active and healthy. I am busy with work, volunteer work, gardening, being in a book club, working on our house, and generally hanging out with friends, including Janet Jobe (Coldwell) whose son attends the same school as my boys do! None of my family is in old NB anymore. My sister is in Regina. My dad passed away in 1997 and last year my mom moved to Wynyard. When I have been here lately it has been to take the boys skiing at Table Mountain or to visit Margaret McDonald and her family. I enjoyed the reunion a lot. |
| Ken Reichelt I presently live in Columbia, Missouri where I am a Doctoral Student seeking a PhD in Accounting. Twenty-five years ago, I graduated from NBCHS. The following four years, I attended the University of Saskatchewan, where I earned a B.Comm,. in Accounting in 1981. That year I moved back to North Battleford (NB) where I worked for a local accounting firm, Swanson & Gladwell. While in NB, I joined a public speaking club called Toastmasters, which helped me become a better public speaker and also helped me in my professional life. After earning my accounting designation (CA) in 1986, I moved to Edmonton Alberta where I worked as an Internal Auditor for the University of Alberta Hospitals, and later moved on as the Accounting Manager in 1989. During this time I developed a passion for traveling, and in 1995 I moved to Tabuk Saudi Arabia where I worked for the North West Armed Forces Hospital as a Finance Controller and also learned to SCUBA dive on weekends while teaching a few dive buddies. In 1999, I moved to Honolulu, Hawai`i where I attended the University of Hawai`i in Manoa for an MBA in Finance and International Business. I enjoyed the warm weather and continued SCUBA diving and did some hiking as well. Before leaving Hawai'i in 2001, I worked in Pago Pago, American Samoa as a consultant for the Development Bank of American Samoa. After being away from school for 20 years, I decided to pursue a teaching/research career, because I enjoyed the academic life so much. Last year I moved to Columbia, Missouri where I am presently a doctoral student in the University of Missouri. Columbia is a nice place to live and learn. The University has a great football team - the Mizzou Tigers. Life has been great to me so far. I have learned a lot and I would like to learn more. As you can see from my story so far, I have become a bit of a globetrotter. I have traveled to several places such as Great Britain & Ireland, Western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India & Nepal, Samoa, the United States, and Mexico. Some of my travels have been a bit adventurous such as being chased by a rhinoceros in a Nepali jungle and diving in a cave with a shark in the Red Sea. Married? Not yet, but I have lately fallen in love with someone who is my soul mate. I love her dearly and we share the same passion for life. My mother, brother, and sister all live in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. My oldest brother, Jim, passed away in 1978 and my father, Harvey, in 1991. I had a great time at the 10-year reunion in 1986, but I could not make it this time to the 25th anniversary. I hope this bio and the following web-links might help my classmates see what I have been up to lately. Grad pics Honolulu pics American Samoa pics P.S. I like chocolate; Swiss, Belgian or Dutch are the best, alone or with strawberries. |
| Marcy Roberts I have had a variety of jobs over the past 25 years. I started as a secretary/ receptionist in the insurance business as few months after graduation, followed by a brief stint working in a pharmacy in North Battleford. During Joe Clarke’s term as Prime Minister I worked for Terry Nylander who was the MP from the Battlefords/ Meadow Lake. This was an interesting job, as I got to meet several people who would go on to have a great deal of influence in Canadian politics. I was able to meet Joe Clarke, Flora MacDonald, Grant Devine, and Ray Hnatyshyn to name a few. I still work at most of the elections as Deputy Returning Officer or as Poll Clerk. After the fall of the PC government I spend several years baby-sitting for several families in Meota. The kids I looked after are now graduating, married and some are even starting their own families. While baby-sitting I started to work on a casual basis for the CIBC in Meota and North Battleford. When a full time position as a teller (now known as Customer Service Representative) became available in Meota, I jumped at the opportunity. However, four years down the road, CIBC in it’s infinite wisdom and with an eye to better customer service, decided to close the Meota branch and we were given buy-out packages. After CIBC I filled in on a maternity leave at the Rural Municipality/ Village office in Meota as assistant to the administrator. Since then I have been working two or three jobs at a time to make up full time. Beginning in January of 1996 I moved back into the insurance business, working part time as a Motor License Issuer/ Clerk Typist at Meota Insurance. (Debbie Balachay and her husband own the business.) In 2000 I took my insurance courses by correspondence and got my license to sell – home, farm and auto insurance. Over the years I have also been busy with volunteering and community involvement. I was a founding member for the Meota Lioness Club and held every directors position in the club. I have been a board member on the Meota Recreation Association, the Community Hall Board (which includes working 2 or 3 bingos a month to help pay Hall expenses), and the Meota Museum/ Heritage Society. I also have the distinction of being the first female member of the Meota Volunteer Fire Department and have been a member for more than ten years. I am no longer the only female: my sister joined a couple of years ago. For many seasons I was the t-ball coach and had a great time with the kids. Many of them still call me Coach. I have been on three school reunion committees – two for Meota school (which included all students from 1905 and up) and of course our 25 reunion. However, I think my greatest source of pride and accomplishment has got to be the Terry Fox run. I have organized (with help from many vomunteers) the Meota run for the last ten years, during which time we have raised close to $20,000 for cancer research. I never married or had a family of my own, but my sister lives close by with her three children so I have two nephews and a niece that I love and am able to enjoy and spoil and send home to their parents. I had a great time at the Reunion, but was very disappointed that more of our classmates were not able to attend. Hopefully they will be able to make it to the 50th Reunion. |
| Lyla Rothwell A disagreement with a male teacher (where it was suggested that if I didn’t like his decision I could quit) led me to quitting school after completing just one semester of grade 11. Thinking I knew everything at the age of 17 (who didn’t) I acted upon his suggestion and moved to Kelowna. There is discovered that no one was hiring without proof of a high school diploma except for fruit picking. Swallowing my pride, I enrolled in high school and ended up graduating in June 1977 after all. I stayed in Kelowna for three years, then moved to Victoria for another year. Off then to Calgary, where I, believe it or not, worked for the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Quite a change from high school days… On to Red Deer and College, where I graduated with a Law Clerk Diploma. I have been steadily employed for the Justice Department at the Courthouse since, in various courts and capacities. I presently work in Queen’s Bench with my favourite task, the processing of adoptions. I am happily married to Glen Caton, and we have two sons, Garnet, and Sam, ages 20 and 16, respectively. Garnet works in seismic drilling and has just enrolled in the Army. Sam will attend grade 11, and has a successful DJ business. I can’t believe 25 years have passed, and I am honoured that I have been included in your reunion (not being a member of the graduating class). I look forward to seeing everyone and renewing acquintances. |
| Glen Seib I finished school in 77 and worked as a dragline operator in construction for 5 yrs changing tack to welding. I worked for George Abbott and apprenticed to go on to complete my Interprovincal Journeyman status, specializing in pipe welding. During my welding career I worked on various jobs with bridge restoration and oil field work. 1984 I received the top award in Canada (Instructors Award) at STI at which time I completed my boilers ticket. I hung up my welding boots and put on my hiking boots and set out around the globe, visiting the USA/ Hawaii/ Fiji/ Cook Islands/ Australia and ending up in New Zealand where I spent the next 14 years. I met my wife Jacqueline there. We were married and gave life to our three fine sons. In New Zealand I first worked for Milton and Bradley, or the new name is Hasbro, for six years. During that I climbed the corporate ladder as a machine setter to managing the main production lines, then on to die cutting/ guillotine operating and finally the last two years as the quality controller for the company. Also during this time frame I achieved my aircraft pilot's licence and worked and studied wines for Lion Nation. In 1992 I changed my career and stepped into world of sales. I was already doing a part time job demonstrating the proper use of building and car detailing products in retail outlets to the public. This gave me a sound background to sales, and I took on the role as a sales representative for a company which is a division of ORICA. After five years of dedicated service I went onto win two awards for the country of New Zealand. First was the prestigious Customer Service Award and second was the sales person of the year award. New Zealand has (3.2 million people)and I believe 2000 were in the running from all industries. I then moved into head office and became a National Accounts Manager. I also looked after the direction of a division called Rota Cota for N.Z. It certainly kept me busy! In 1998, Jacqui & I decided we were attracted to sunshine and lots of beautiful weather, so we packed up and changes careers again to move to the tropics. We moved to tropics of Brisbane Australia. I came to look after the product range of Turtle Wax and 4 other product ranges for Queensland. Seven months after arrival the company restructured and all middle management were axed. So Jacqui and I decided it was time to start our own business, so we built our own Automotive store (450 sq meters) 5 mins from where we live. We are now into our third year as directors as well we now have to other businesses. I'm a partner in a company which we have a built (1.5 yrs) and distribute to Australia the worlds BEST Leather Chamois called Aussie Chamois. We have only of recent, just started a company for Jacqui called Jacqueline's Secrets, with which Jacqui is setting up a distribution chain of beautiful hand made women's slippers. Our manufacture is New Zealand based. This is an exclusive product to only a select range of outlets. It's going well. |
| Chris Tucker It is hard to write about your life the last 25 years since high school. What can I say about them? They have gone by quite fast and yet at times it seems they have been so slow, the majority have been kind but yet some have been unkind, there has been heartache but yet so much more joy. Though more of all these 25 years have been about change, some of us have changed more than others and in more ways than others and I look forward to visiting with all of you. I rather talk than write because I never know what to write that would be of interest. So here goes. I married Ken Day in 1978 and moved to Humboldt for about five years. When we separated I moved to Saskatoon whee I have lived and worked ever since. For the past 12 years I have worked for Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency as a Clerk Typist II. Recently I got involved with our SGEU Local, and an now chair of the Negotiating Committee, the Bargaining Council , and Co-Chair of the Job Evaluation/ Pay Equity Committee. I am involved as a volunteer with a number of charities and organizations in Saskatoon. My newest interest, which I need to make more time for, is taking classes and creating stained glass projects such as windows, stepping stones, and ornaments. I enjoy it a great deal but find that I need to keep a stock of bandages close by. I have raised two sons, Michael (26) and Adam (19). Michael received his BA in Biology for the UofS and is currently attending a co-operative fisheries program at BCIT in Vancouver. Adam is entering his second year at the UofS, currently in Arts and Science majoring in Sociology (at least I think that is what it is this month) and still living at home. My life has rarely been dull where they are concerned, and I am very proud of them. I rarely see people from high school even when I come back to North Battleford to visit, but yet I have managed to run into a few people from time to time in unexpected places. The one person who I have kept in touch with since high school is Donna Heidel. Unfortunately, Donna sends her regrets but work (computer drafting in the oil industry, ie., platforms, pump houses, etc.) required her to move from Calgary to Halifax in the middle of July for about 18 months. When I visited Donna in June we sat down and looked through our year books and her grad scrapbook talking about different people from school that we had run into over the years. She sent back some photos with me of her baby (to show off for her) a sailboat (approx. 42 footer) that she, along with a friend, built from scratch starting in their backyard in Calgary. It is currently docked on Vancouver Island and undergoing repairs from some storm damage this past year. I have not had the opportunity to go out sailing with her, but hope to in the future. When she first started this boat, her plan was to sail around the world, but that plan has been delayed for awhile. The two of us kid each other that our 19-year projects – me raising my youngest, and her boat – just might end up costing about the same, and who is really getting the better deal. Well, that is the condensed version of the past 25 years, and I look forward to catching up on what the rest of you are doing, and learning about your families. |
| Maureen Wilkins The last 25 years have seen many moves and changes in my life. I started out at various jobs and schooling before I met my future husband in Saskatoon. I worked down at Carlyle at a grocery store while Greg was stationed at the Sask Wheat Pool there. We both transferred to the Battlefords and began work in the fall of 1980. I worked at the OK there for the next three and a half years. We were married in January of 1982. In the fall of 1983, we moved to Speers as Greg took a promotion within his work. While we were there in 1985, our first son, Scott, was born on January 2. Promotion came calling again, and we were off to Milden in the fall of 1987. While in Milden we enjoyed many good timed as we started off in the hockey trail that would become the centre of our entertainment for many years to come. This time also included the hardest time in our lives. We were blessed with a second son, Troy. Born Christmas Day 1987, we found out soon after his birth that there was a problem. Troy was born with a major heart defect. The doctors told us he wouldn’t make the night. He made the night, and we enjoyed precious Troy for eighteen days in our own home. Getting through this was tough. In 1989, we went forward and had out third boy, Brock, born March 27. We moved back to the north to Margo in 1991, with yet another step up. Greg became manager here and really enjoyed the responsibility. After seeing an opportunity improve, we moved after two and a half years to Lake Lenore in 1994. We remained here until opportunity knocked again in 1998. It was then that we moved to Melville. Greg had a great position for there four years and things were zipping along until Sask Wheat Pool changed. Our twenty year career ended after al those moves and upgrades. Greg got bumped with senority and we made the decision together to make a change. What a step. Greg is presently the Business and Finance Manager at Urban County Dodge in Yorkton, commuting while we still live in Melville. I have been working at a bakery since coming to Melville and remain there today. Our lived have kept us busy moving and we have been fortunate to meet many great friends over the years. We still keep in touch with several friends from the various communities we lived in. Melville is a great community for kids and hockey. We have had as extremely exciting and satisfying twenty years, the last 13 watching our kids grow up and play hockey and golf. Our proud accomplishments include being Provincial Champions THREE times, and going for more. Hockey has certainly enriched our lived with great times and good friends. Scott, our oldest, is 17 and going into grade 12, and Brock is 13 and going into grade 8. |
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