Review-Mirror

A 50th anniversary reunion at Rideau Vista Friday saw the return of a number of staff members. Back row, from left: Neil Scott, Jackalyn Brady, Marilyn Ambler, Mona (Long) Kennedy, Vern Kennedy, Jeff Seed and Teresa Polite. Front row, from left: Cathy Doornekamp, Ann Savage, Betty McInnis, Diane Graham-Lynn, Sue Todd, Roma Wing and Bonnie Prevost. Missing from the photo but also present: George Rutherford, Lynda (Westcott) Luke Brown and Karen McCarthy. •Continued from page 1 Organizing the event has brought a lot of satis- faction to Cathy Davison who enjoys the pleasure the public gets from the event. "If you get involved in this you won't regret it," she said. "Those with hidden tal- ents and desiring to get involved, now is your chance. Whoever gets involved will have lots of support through the previ- ous coordinator and the township," said Dunfield. The next meeting will be Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the North Crosby Hall. For more information contact Sue Dunfield at the town- ship office at 1-800-928- 2250 ext. 238 or susan@twprideaulakes.on .ca. Last Friday evening the Rideau Vista Public School's 50th reunion brought together former students, teachers, princi- pals and parents for an evening of reminiscing and music. An organizing commit- tee of past and present staff developed the pro- gram which included the collection of hundreds of photographs, the creation of a video and a program of music presented by for- mer students, including professional musician Tom Savage. Around 150 people attended the event which was organized by past and present staff to coincide with the school's opening. Plans to organize a reunion last spring got dropped after it was dis- covered the school's com- pletion was for the start of the 1967-68 school year. Teacher Shauna Strot- mann Scanlon began teaching at the school in 2003 and is glad she's had the good fortune to become part of the com- munity. "This is a special place not like any other school. It's a community of multi- generation families. As an outsider I really see it because now I feel like I'm really a part of some- thing," she said. In 1968 local students were a part of something new after generations of students were taught in the public school which still sits at the corner of Con- cession and Rideau Streets. Andy McGregor, an original Rideau Vista stu- dent, who was then in grade one remembers the first time his class went to the school after spending the fall at the old school. "We all held hands and we walked up from the school," said McGregor who recently retired from an over thirty year career in the military. Retired Rideau Vista teacher Jackalyn Brady was pleased with the evening which brought back four former princi- pals including Neil Scott, George Rutherford, Sue Todd and Teresa Polite. "The parents had as much fun as their kids looking at their parents' photos," said Brady. Any mystery of how or why the school was named was revealed in a 50-year old newspaper clipping on display. Fifty years ago Kate Dodds was awarded $25 from the school board with her winning entry of 'Rideau Vista'. The Review-Mirror October 19, 2017 – 3 Rideau Vista reunion a hit Lots of support for Canada Day volunteers Upper Rideau Branch 542 10099 Cty. Rd. 10, Westport 613-273-3615 1952 2017 UPPER RIDEAU #542 Follow us on Facebook for the latest on Legion 542 events All-you-can-eat Spaghetti Fri., Oct. 20, 6 pm (3rd Friday of the month) Saturday, October 21 Resort to Murder mysterydinner 90% Sold Out! Honours & Awards Ceremony Sun., October 22, 2-4 pm (see separate ad) Halloween Dance & Social Fri. October 27, 8-12 pm Come in costume – or not. Music by Hands of Time Prizes and light luncheon. Community & Veterans Dinner Sat., Nov. 4, 3 pm (see separate ad) Cribbage every Wednesday, 10 am Open to everyone - not just Legion members. Call 613-273-8890 for information. 6-hand Euchre Thursdays, 7:30 pm Everyone welcome. Come join the fun. Sunday Fun Darts 12:45 p.m. to set up teams. 1 p.m. starts. Open to everyone - beginners welcome! Lounge hours Tues. 4-7•Wed 4-7•Thurs 4-7•Fri 3-7•Sat 2-6 We are booking for the Christmas season. Call Juanita for a tour at 613-273-8455. Monday Bingo 7 p.m. • Toonie Pot approx. $892 Bonanza $650 • Jackpot $1150 • All 55#s or less Shoeboxes available at Olivet Baptist Church, Westport Please pick one up and fill it up or bring items to the church and we'll pack them. Call 273-2012 Deadline Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 For more, go to www.SamaritansPurse.ca Operation Christmas Child Operation Christmas Child is a hands-on project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and development organization. Canadians are able to bless the lives of children living in the developing world by packing gift-filled shoeboxes with a variety of toys, school supplies and hygiene items. Royal Canadian Legion Upper Rideau Branch 542, Westport We are the Guardians of REMEMBRANCE ANNUAL HONOURS AND AWARDS CEREMONY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2017 at 2 p.m. Please join us in honouring our members and sharing some comradeship. Refreshments to follow ceremony •Continued from page 1 from 15,448 in 2016 to just 14,561 this year, a 5.7 per cent drop. The numbers of U.S. boaters increased from 4823 to 5409 this year, a 12.1 per cent increase Ontario boaters increased 26.2 per cent with numbers increasing from 38424 in 2016 to 47,114 in 2017. For the last decade canal traffic has fallen after an eventful 175 anniversary season in 2007 brought 81,000 ves- sels through the canal. The increase in traffic through lock stations in the southern sector, com- pared to the growth in the number of moorings, up 2.2 per cent, suggest that local cottage traffic took advantage of the free lock- age to travel beyond their own lake. Lockage fees return next year with Parks Canada expected to announce the rates this fall. Lockage fees coming back in 2018 Part of the enjoyment at Friday's reunion was looking back at the past, from left, Wenda Lyons, Art Thompson and Dave Blair. A graph created by www.rideau-info.com creator Ken Watson shows traffic on the canal has declined since the 1980's

• Cover