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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 5, 2016 | 16 T.A. Blakelock prepares to celebrate 60th anniversary by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver When T.A. Blakelock High School (TAB) opened in September 1957, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for students like Cecelia Carter. The then-13-year-old was a "minor niner" when the Oakville high school first welcomed students into its facility at 1160 Rebecca St. Carter recalls fond memories of "my Tabby days," she said, recalling the teachers, classrooms, gymnasium and bus ride to TAB with students from the Palermo Schoolhouse. The next chapter begins "We were Grade 8 grads about to embark on the next chapter in our life in a brand new school. Imagine our excitement," said Carter. "We rode the bus with the country kids from Palermo. What fun. We became friends riding the road to TAB." Carter and her friends were in "awe" when they first came to the school, she said, because everything sparkled and the gym was her paradise. "When I was in elementary school, Gym was my favourite subject. For a kid who loved to live in the gym and on the cinder running track, TAB would be my paradise. I wasn't disappointed," said Carter. As a youth who "lacked self-confidence," Carter said she was privileged to have a helpful Grade 9 homeroom teacher, Ruth Gorwill, who taught Science and Physical Education. Her other teachers and principal, George Pew, were also welcoming, while school spirit was "off the charts." School spirit "off the charts' "We were the new kids on the block and our teams were on a mission. Our biggest rival was Oakville Trafalgar High School (OTHS). They were the big boys on the block," said Carter. She credits Gorwill, Jean Broijer and Al Nicholls for being role models for "this 13-yearold country bumpkin" when TAB opened 59 years ago. "This Tabby minor niner became a teacher (of 33 years) thanks to the encouragement and positive role modeling of Miss Gorwill, Miss Broijer and Mr. Nicholls," she said. Carter will be one of hundreds of alumni expected to attend T.A. Blakelock's 60th reunion in May 2017. To celebrate the upcoming anniversary, TAB has a few events planned for Saturday, May 20, 2017, including an open house at the school, golf tournament in Burlington and a pub night at the OE Banquet and Conference Centre. Dan Ferrone, co-chair of the 60th reunion committee and TAB alumni, said it's time to have a "little bit of a celebration" for the school's anniversary, noting it will be exciting for people to see others they haven't seen for many years. "We're going after three generations, four generations of students who came to Blakelock. The nostalgia you learn is important to our students today, so they see the history. It's very important to know who they are and how they're going forward," said Ferrone. The new Thomas A. Blakelock High School opened in September 1957. The photo (top left) was taken the same year. A majestic tree stood tall in front of the high school on opening day (right). Meanwhile, (below) students formed the school's letters when the high school community celebrated its 50th anniversary. | submitted photos creation of the T.A. Blakelock Hall of Fame in 2005, which features a number of renowned alumni including Terese Sears, Johannes Linstead, David Bradstreet, Hart Hanson, Dr. Alan Brown, Greg Westlake, Carter and Ferrone, a former Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders Canadian Football League player. "Our inductees are not always just athletes or doctors, they're actors, a network of youths. Everyone who reads about them can go, `Hmm. Maybe I can do something meaningful with my life or make a mark somewhere in the world,'" said Buck. "You can do something if you have a dream or have a hope." Dreams and hopes at TAB Details for T.A. Blakelock's three anniversary events on Saturday, May 20, 2017, are as follows: open house at TAB, 1160 Rebecca St., from 2-5 p.m.; and pub night at the OE Banquet & Conference Centre, 2245 Speers Rd., from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets cost $40, which includes light snacks and cash bar. The third function will be a scrambleformatted golf tournament at Indian Wells Golf Club, 5377 Walkers Line, in Burlington. Shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. and the fee is $100, which includes cart, lunch and donation. Details on where to purchase tickets for the golf tournament and pub night will be released later this year. In addition to the 2017 reunion, TAB plans on creating a legacy fund for teachers and students to utilize in the future. "The school has been a big part of the community. It is a huge a part (of Oakville) and it fulfills many aspects inside the community. For 60 years, Blakelock has been a great contributor to the Oakville community," said Ferrone. For more information or to volunteer at any of the three events, email TAB60thReunion@ gmail.com. People can also join the Facebook group, TAB60thReunion, for additional details. Our sports have always been good... Our academics have had a very good reputation and I still think they do. We have a great arts program... certainly 40 and 50 years ago, we did, too. Teacher/Reunion Chair Anne Buck "Teachers are some of the key personnel to a reunion. People want to see their teachers from different eras." Anne Buck, 60th reunion committee co-chair and TAB teacher, noted its 50-year celebration in 2007 was a success, with "hundreds and hundreds" of alumni in attendance. TAB was one of only a few high schools in Oakville in 1957, Buck said, which was an exciting time for the then-brand new educational institution. Since Day 1, there has been a "wide breadth" of programs for the students. "Our sports have always been good. There were certainly some glory years when Ferrone was here. Our academics have had a very good reputation and I still think they do. We have a great arts program... certainly 40 and 50 years ago we did, too," said Buck. While the school has always remained at 1160 Rebecca St., there have been several renovations and additions over the years including the theatre, south wing, office, change rooms, gym and football field. At one point, TAB had 2,200 students, which is why it added a south wing, but today it accommodates about 1,100 -- about 100 more than when it first opened. It had 68 teachers in 1959 and has 85 currently. "We made the changes necessitated by the growth of the population. We were able to do some good things as far as being able to accommodate a whole bunch of different aspects to the school," said Ferrone. One of its more notable additions was the