Riverside Reunion digs up memories

By Sandee Nho

Twnety-five years ago students at Riverside Secondary School buried a time capsule filled with memories and letters. On Oct. 12 they dug up their past.

Graduates filled the cafeteria as the contents of a time capsule were put out on display. Handwritten letters, old news articles and worn-down sports jerseys were just a few of the items pulled from the capsule. The day before, the alumni were able to socialize and catch up with classmates and teachers from their high school days.

Jill Bundun, a teacher at Notre Dame Catholic School said this was her first reunion. She enjoyed trying to find fellow classmates at the reunion.

“It’s 50 years. It’s hard to imagine that the school has been around that long,” said Bundun. “Every time you run into somebody the first thing you do is look at the name tag and see if you know who they are.”

Alumni had the opportunity to wander the hallways, gymnasiums and the cafeteria to share a few drinks and reminisce. Yearbooks from the first year Riverside Secondary School opened to the present year were available to browse through.

Zwanette Curry, now working in the dietary department at Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, graduated in 1974. She said it felt like she travelled back in time.

“It’s like déjà vu,” said Curry. “Nothing’s really changed. I see a lot of the old teachers that have been here for the reunion too. So it’s fun seeing them. It’s like being back in time.”

Chris Burston, a manufacturing quality insurance manager, left Riverside in 1975. He said the school spirit wore off in the 1970s because of the drug culture.

“I got here in the 1970s and the 70s was the beginning of the drug culture and things like that and it was a very apathetic time,” said Burston. “I got involved in a lot of partying back then. It’s unfortunate because I remember when I first got here they had a school song and you had to stand up when that was happening.”

Current prime minister of the Riverside Secondary School Student Council Curtis LaButte said the organizing committee of the reunion started planning the event in January. Their committee members included former school prime ministers, principals, former teachers and current ones. The reunion had about 1,500 attendees and 1,000 of the graduates pre-registered. Bake sales, raffles, food and beverages were sold by current students at Riverside. The money raised at the event went towards the students and their athletics, academics and future fundraisers.

“Something that I’ve learned is that people really have pride in Riverside and the community,” said LaButte. “It’s a really great community and everyone comes back and still talks and enjoys it. It’s a really close community and it’s a good one to live in.“