North American Reunion

November 9 through 11, 2001

Royal York Hotel, Toronto Canada

Reportage

I have just returned from my second school reunion in two years, and a great occasion it was. Although the school is located in Geneva, I travelled to Toronto to attend this reunion, as it was intended for alumni from North America. However, my brother Gordon, a native of Toronto, was on the organising committee, so I thought I would show willing and support the event. It was well attended, despite the dampening effects of 11 September and the bankruptcy of Canada's second airline, upon which many of those coming from other parts of Canada had booked.

But those events also served as a reminder of why Canada had been chosen to host this reunion. In the aftermath of the crash of Swissair flight 111 just off the coast of Nova Scotia, the people of Peggy's Cove in that province opened their hearts and gave practical support first to the would-be rescuers and then to the grieving loved ones of those who perished. Our school, the International school of Geneva, was hit hard by that tragedy, losing several parents, former parents, students and alumni. The alumni association wanted to express its gratitude to the people of Canada, and Nova Scotia in particular. The possibility of holding the event in Maritime Canada was explored, but eventually Toronto was chosen as it had facilities to cope with the expected numbers.

Ironically, this reunion took place not far from the school that I had left the International school to attend, Pickering College. It was that school, with its Quaker ethos, from which I actually graduated. I will always be grateful to my teachers and fellow pupils at Pickering, and yet for some strange reason, my attachment to the International school remains strong. I have spent the last week thinking about attachments. Why do I feel so strongly about a place I left when I was 14? The two best friends I have I made in those days, and while my years there were often difficult, much of who I am today I owe to my time at that school.

As we drove through the back streets of Toronto, my brother asked, 'Is any of this familiar?' As we emerged at a major intersection, and I got my bearings, I allowed that I did, indeed, know where I was. But in that question, Gord got at the nub of what I was wrestling with.

A few days later, driving my mother's car through the streets of Kitchener-Waterloo, where we had lived for five years, I commented to my wife how alien it all seemed. Of course there had been changes, but that wasn't it. It simply wasn't 'home' anymore. We were visitors, trying to remember where once-familiar streets led. I added that I never felt that way in Geneva, in spite of the 15-year period during which I did not return there.

I like living in the UK, and I feel 'settled' here. But something about Geneva means that it will always be 'home'. Is it the school, the friends, the memories, or something less tangible? Maybe I will never know, but reunions like the one I have just attended remind me how fortunate I am.

Harry J Albright
Published in The Friend (UK)

 

It was grand. It was fun. It was a welcome respite. We were certainly fewer in numbers, but quality prevailed. Many, many thanks to Jock and Laura and everyone else who worked so hard to organize the event. In the midst of all the craziness that surrounds us currently, it was very reassuring to feel once again the spirit of Ecolint at its best. Welcoming, accepting, understanding and caring.

Toronto is a wonderful city and our hosts provided us with ample opportunities to experience the city's broad offerings. Is it any real surprise though that many of us simply found places to sit and talk - okay, and eat and drink?. Did you know that Movenpick is thriving there? It is - and we made contributions adequate to ensure its economic survival well into the future.

Personally, I am very happy to, at least in part, replace some of the visual memories of 9/11 with those of Ecolinters from the fifties through the seventies (taking great pride in knowing that, once again, the class of '70 led the way - or at least tied with the class of '63 - in attendance) dancing to the Beatles "Twist and Shout". Is there anything more poignant than sharing the dance floor with friends new and old, faculty (Mr. Unitt can still cut quite a rug) and administrators? Not much.

Jock, thanks again.

Warm regards to all,
Sarah Williams (LGB '70)

 

Thank you, Sarah, for making the post that I've been telling myself I've got to get around to.

Carol Popper wrote something following the 1999 Geneva reunion, in which she said it was like visiting Brigadoon where one exits one's ordinary existence and enters a completely different world which disappears again once one leaves. This event achieved that illusion again.

Adolescence is so fabulous, the first discovery that one's parents' judgments are as fallible as anyone else's, and that one's friends can be as smart and as wise as grownups. In such company one creates an integrated understanding of the Whole World. To rejoin the people with whom we discovered the World as it Is, is to rediscover and relive that whole discovery -- to see the world again through beginner's eyes.

Ditto everything you said, Sarah, about the great gift the organizers of the event gave us, about how fine a city Toronto is. Also the choice of the Royal York was a stroke of genius. What a great hotel!

Thank all of you who organized this memorable event.

See you in Geneva '04, I hope!

Steve Tobias'55-'59

 

I "second the motion!" The Toronto reunion was a real classy affair in every which way... in its planning, in the events, the food, the band, the hotel location... in all things! It was wonderful!

Thanks to all who planned it for us - Jock, Laura, et al!

Manfred Thullen '56

 

Well, what great fun THAT was! For us 60's types especially, perhaps, although I think those from other years were fairly entertained by our antics on the dance floor.
     As our "alumni movement" has developed, mostly since 1994, it's becoming to seem natural to be together with DOZENS of close friends from forty years ago! Even in a city thousands of miles from Geneva -- the only place most of us knew each other. The effect is to make decades shrink to almost nothing; and as well, to feel as if we are in touch with dozens of countries and cities around the world.
     Again, many thanks to Jock and Laura, Iranee and all the others who gave hundreds of hours, along with intense personal care and forethought, and went through tons of aggravation and doubt, to make it possible for the eighty of us to have a sensational time. And thanks to Mr. Billingsley, and to Matt Cooper, new presdient of thre alumni association, as well as Sue Anthony, for coming over from Geneva. And Condolences to Eric, who is still mending well, we hope.
         Ever,
             Rock Brynner ('63)

 

Dear Alumni,

I have now arrived back to a cold, windy Geneva after having spent five wonderful days in Toronto at the Ecolint in North America Reunion. I would like to thank Jock Galloway, Laura Hedgcock Jarvis, Iranee de Soysa Zarb, Tracy Reed Hain, Jennifer Ruddick Clark, Gordon Albright and Mike Kelly for the enormous efforts that they put into organising this Reunion. However, their efforts were well rewarded as the Reunion was an outstanding success - I really enjoyed every minute of it. The organisation was impeccable and the location magnificent. Thanks also to Pam Ehrgott McLemore for arranging a great Niagara Falls trip.

Reg and Yvonne Unitt (who do not have e-mail) have asked me to extend their sincere thanks and best wishes to all the organisers and participants. The three of us had a ball !!

See you all very soon,
With my very best wishes,
Sue Anthony

Friday 9th

    Niagra Falls Tour - Reunion Registration - Welcoming Reception - Dinner at Marché
Saturday 10th

    Lunch at Mövenpick - On the Town in Toronto - Cocktail Reception - Dinner Dance
Sunday 11th
    Farewell Brunch at the Marché Restaurant