Sydenham High School 150th - The Time is Now!

Kelli McRobert | Mar 08, 2023

The school hallways are abuzz with energy of students eagerly awaiting the festivities of the day. Today they are celebrating the opening of the school 150 years ago (March 3, 1873), and cake is on the menu. But not before an important announcement.

Terra Nova Truss, a local company established in 1991, whose owner, Mark Fox (grad ’79) was on hand to present a $15,000 check towards the Reunion Tent where much of the action at the grand celebration of the 150th anniversary will take place on the weekend of August 26-27.

Some of the reunion weekend committee members, a few students, and other key players lined up for the presentation of $15,000 towards the Reunion tent. Once photos were completed, we all headed down past the archives for a look at 150 years of memorabilia that was neatly sorted chronologically for an impressive recounting of this school and its rich history.

Black and white photos, showed large classes of alumni, sports teams, original building photos, and year books that told a historic tale of past milestones and points of interest. In an old old trunk, you could see the fragile papers whose corners are curled, neatly stored amongst, books, photos, trophies and relics. Such beautiful memories, safely kept, ready to be shared, a step back in time.

The current students in the school are being drawn into the celebration, as they are working on sorting and organizing the overwhelming amounts of data that is being uncovered and discovered through an epic endeavour. The room is packed full of memorabilia, artifacts, pictures of foundations being built for students, capturing a moment in time; end of one era, and a beginning of another.

Traditions are at the core, as young and old don their SHS t-shirts and red and gold balloons align the common areas. Down to the cafeteria we go, a parade of adults weaving its way past the extensive line up for SHS 150 free cake.

This past week’s events were the start of a year long celebration ramping up to the reunion in August. Chris Hammer said that the day was also a “milestone for the reunion committee, and we launched admission ticket sales on Eventbrite.”

There are 5 early bird draws scheduled before April 17th, and the proposed cut-off for ticket sales is June 1st. To purchase tickest, go to Eventbrite.ca and type Sydenham High School Reunion into the search function.

Back in the cafeteris, the students sang Happy Birthday SHS and we all enjoyed some amazing cake made by Sydenham Sweet Bakery. The cake did not last long.

Upcoming reunion events include a Euchre night at the legion in Sydenham on April 1, and we a trivia night at the Harrowsmith Breweries in May.” For information, call 1-844-386-2835 or visit www.shs150.com