UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES!!
 1974 GRADE TWELVE CLASS
50th ANNIVERSARY REUNION
October 11-12, 2024
Can it really be 50 years since we were classmates at Ross L. Gray School?!
Bottom row: Doug Kemp, Nancy Hill, Robin Milne, Ron Ruud
Second row: Gilbert Beaudry, Lynn Cote, Gerry Nordstrom, Leland Nelson
Third row: Leland Jernberg, Wes McLeod, Jeff Shypit, Janice Olson
Top row: Ron Blixt, Denise Gobeil, Martin Nordstrom
Some of us were in Grade 1 together in 1962
Bottom: Sandy Milne, Iris Salamandych, Nancy Hill, Mona Dixon, Wanda Holmes, Charlene Hood, Rachel Bartinski, Janice Olson
Middle: Allan Caswell, Martin Nordstrom, Leland Jernberg, John Owczar, Gary Hebel, Jeff Shypit, Ron Ruud, Billy Faskerti
Top: Wes McLeod, Mark Thompson, Leland Nelson, Sean McKay, Robin Milne, Bruno Winterer, Gerry Milne, Mrs. Olga Wesner
We also had other great classmates for several years between 1962-74!
For example: Mitch Gobeil, Don Martel, Brian Hovorka, Simon Lizare, Deena Cayer, Wanda Holmes, Bonnie Yurechka, and others!
Some History
How did we come to be classmates? The biggest factor was the Manitoba-wide consolidation of rural schools. It was initiated for Sprague School in 1962 (which just so happened to be our Grade 1 year) and then suspended. In 1965, Golden Branch & Middlebro schools joined the newly named Ross L Gray School in Sprague. In 1967, Whitemouth Lake, Gobeil, and South Junction joined. Vassar and Burns joined in 1968.
Thereafter, most of us were together through Grade 12! Other factors of course were that some families moved into and out of the area, some of us transferred to schools in other places, and some of us went into different grades.
During these formative school years, we were very fortunate to share many experiences and build strong friendships. Year after year we studied, played, competed, cooperated, doubted, believed, succeeded, failed, laughed, and cried – together!
Since we left school fifty years ago, some of us have been able to reconnect. Huge kudos to Nancy Kemp (Hill) et al for coordinating a 10th anniversary class reunion in 1984! Some of us participated in the RLG school-wide reunions of 1986 and 1996 (and maybe others). Ron Ruud suggested in 2020 that we get together for a reunion but the pandemic hit. Then in June of 2023, Wes, Ron, Jeff, Robin, and Martin began talking about a 50th Anniversary Class Reunion!
It's TIME to again get together to REMEMBER our school days and RENEW our friendships!
There’s a lot about life to share among friends! Some thoughts to consider are: Who inspired and helped direct me during my school days? Who are the people important to me now? How has life turned out differently than I expected? What has been particularly fulfilling for me in life? What are my hopes and dreams for the future?
Let’s also take this reunion opportunity to thank our former teachers, some of whom are still with us! And let us remember/honour our classmates and teachers who have sadly passed away.
REUNION SCHEDULE DRAFT
Friday, October 11
6:00 pm Homecoming Meet & Greet! Sprague Evergreen Senior Centre
- Potluck SNACKS & BEVERAGES (not supper)
- School photos, yearbooks, trophies, memorabilia display.
- Music playlists of favorite songs from the '60s &‘70s. Wi-Fi and AV equipment available. (Contact lelandjernberg@gmail.com with your 2 favorite songs)
- Wear a ‘70s throwback clothing item(s).
- Voluntarily share “round the room” updates.
- Overnight Accommodation Options Buffalo Point Resort
- Indicate you are with Ross L Gray 50th Anniversary Reunion when making your own reservation here for Friday and Saturday nights. Organize with your classmates if you want to share a luxury or deluxe cottage. Off season rates apply. Check in, 4 pm.
- Private residence, family, or friends, or commercial accommodation of your choice.
Saturday, October 12
On Your Own Breakfast
(NOTE: For classmates staying at Buffalo Point Resort, the Fire & Water Bistro will NOT be open, but each cabin has a fully-equipped kitchenette for your convenience)
10:30 Here Comes the Bus!
- School Bus will pick us up at Ross L Gray School in Sprague and take us on a 100 km guided history tour of some consolidating rural schools: South Junction, Vassar, Whitemouth, Gobeil, Golden Branch.
- Share stories about country schools - history, families, friends, memorials.
- Share memories from bus rides, field trips, sports trips!
12:30 pm Home of The Raiders! Ross L Gray School
- School tour - classrooms, photo walls, reminisce, history, current affairs.
- Gymnasium activities (shoot some hoops?! cheerlead?!)
- Bring your own bag lunch.
2:00 History Lane!
Sprague & District Historical Museum
Sprague & District Historical Museum - Facebook
An amazing collection of community people, stories, events, and artifacts.
Provide your own transportation to and from the museum.
5:30 Harvest Dinner! Banquet Room Buffalo Point Resort
- 5:00 pm Welcome Reception
- A “Thanksgiving Dinner Menu” of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, seasonal vegetables, bun, tossed salad, cranberry sauce, dessert, and coffee/tea. $45 per person (taxes and gratuities included) to be purchased when registering for the reunion.
- Former teachers will be our special guests.
- Photo booth - Music playlists – Reminiscences – Tributes!
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- The reunion registration fee is the shared cost per 1974 classmate of:
Renting Sprague Evergreen Senior Centre
Renting the Buffalo Point Banquet Room
Renting a School Bus
Complimentary Tickets to Harvest Dinner for our teacher guests.
Any left-over funds will be donated to Ross L Gray School.
YOUR PARTICIPATION is VALUED and NEEDED!
Contact the coordinators of the reunion events if you would like to help promote, organize, and conduct this amazing 50th Anniversary Reunion of classmates and friends!
Event Coordinator
Homecoming Meet & Greet Wes McLeod
Here Comes the Bus Robin Milne
Home of the Raiders Robin Milne
History Lane Wes McLeod
Harvest Dinner Ron Ruud
Registration Jeff Shypit
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