St. Clair College students dialing back to 1997 and touch tone phones

In a blast from the past, students and the public gathered recently at St. Clair College for the unveiling of its 1997 time capsule, sealed up 20 years ago to the day.

The artifacts revealed Oct. 11 included a red touch tone phone, a family photo, VHS tapes, a school calendar and even poker chips – all things that apparently had an impact on students in the 1990s, who were celebrating St. Clair College’s 30^th anniversary at the time.

The time capsule was set into a wall, across from the EPIC Genesis Centre at the south campus.

Jody Cloutier, who was on student council in 1997, was on hand for the unveiling – part of the college’s celebrations this year of its 50^th year.

“It’s a great honour to be able to be back to the college, and I still donate my time, and I’m on the foundation board, and I’m very involved with St. Clair,” said Cloutier.

For Cloutier, an event like this gives others the chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the college over the years.

Current student representative council president Nick Goran agreed it is important for today’s students as well as the community.

“I think it’s going to be really positive,” said Goran. “I think if students can look into the past and recognize the different things that went on in the past, and now recognize how well we’ve become as a college, I think they’d really like that experience.”

The opening of the 1997 time capsule made way for the placing of the new time capsule.

Goran filled it with modern day items such as an iPhone 4, St. Clair College’s 2017 planner and 17 other items. The time capsule was locked away once more, to be opened again in 25 years – in the year 2042.