Hundreds of alumni and community members took a trip down memory lane earlier this month to help École Assiniboine celebrate 100 years as a school.
Joanne Mackinnon-Hunt attended Assiniboine in the 1960s and came to the festivities with several former classmates. She makes a point of getting together with about 13 alumni every five years or so to reminisce about the old days.
“It's just awesome to come back to school to see and be in this historic building," she says.
MacKinnon-Hunt and her classmates can still put names to faces in many old classroom photos.
“It was such a grounding school," she says, adding that the small size of the school gave teachers a chance to help develop all the kids to their full potential.
Principal Jean Burnett was thrilled by the turn out, which she estimates to have been between 650 and 700 people
over the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon events.
“I want to thank the community for helping us celebrate this important milestone, and all the staff, volunteers and students for putting together this incredible event," she says.
Throughout the two-day celebration, attendees wound their way through several decade rooms curated by staff and volunteers. Many alumni were able to point out former classmates and staff members as they browsed through old pictures, learning materials and notebooks.
On Saturday, current Grade 4/5 students performed half a dozen songs selected to give a nod to the school's history, including Buffalo Calling Song, On écrit sur les murs, the Graduation Song (Friends Forever), an Assiniboine 100th Celebration song, and 1960's hit Sugar, Sugar. Principal Burnett also accepted a commemorative plaque from the Manitoba Historical Society.
Over the weekend, Principal Burnett and staff officially unveiled a mosaic piece of artwork featuring the school's past,
present and future. It was designed by a local artist with input from current students and can be seen inside the front entrance of the building.
École Assiniboine was built in 1922. The anniversary centennial was delayed due to COVID-19 and took place on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4, 2023.
(From top to bottom): An attendee browses through memorabilia; Alumni Joanne Mackinnon-Hunt holds up a picture of her and her former classmates; And a close up of an mosaic art installation featuring the chimney swift, a protected species that lives in the school's chimney infrastructure;
(Below, from left to right): Principal Burnett accepts a commemorative plaque from members of the Manitoba Historical Society; Decade rooms filled with class pictures, artefacts, notebooks and learning materials; Students sing for attendees on Saturday; And students from the Hula Hoop Club perform the 1960s song Sugar, Sugar.
