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ar 4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 17, 1987 Editorial Comments Canoe The Nonquon For more years than some would care to remember. Canoe the Nonquon has been a mainstay in this community the first Saturday in June. - Sadly, over the last few years, the event seems to have fallen on hard times. The number of participants slowly dwindled from the peak in the mid-70"s when some 200. canoes made their way along the "Nonquon River and Lake Scugog. to last year when there were less than 60 enthusiasts paddling against the clock and themselves over the tough 20 mile course We say the event fell on hard times, only in terms of the number of participants. For those who continued to race. the event remained important and as competitive as ever. The tradition of Canoe the Nonquon as a racing event for some 1S something that should not be taken lightly Still, from the point of view of raising funds for the operation of the Scugog Shores Museum (this was the reason for the event in the first place way back 17 or 18 years ago) the Historical Society began to wonder if it was worth the effort as a money making venture. Readers should note the two letters on the letters to the editor page in this week's edition of the Star. It would appear that there are some problems surfacing this year. We sincerely hope - these problems can be sorted out in the next few weeks because Canoe the Nonquon is slated for June 6 this year and that is just a few short weeks away. As one of the letters state, the Canoe we Nonquon Committee has opted this year to reduce the length of the course from 20 miles to 16 miles in the hopes of getting more people to par- ticipate. There's nothing wrong with this, although we wonder if . the reduction of a mere four miles will make much difference io those who are not ardent conoeists and may not be in the kind of physical shape necessary to paddle a canoe for 16 miles (or even half that distance). Nevertheless, the committee has decided rightly so, that some changes in the overall format are necessary if the event is to at- tract more participants and in turn serve as a viable fund-raiser for the Scugog Shores Historical Museum. But Rudi Jammer certaiply makes a valid point in his letter published this week. Mr. Jammer and members of this family have been competitive canoe racers for many years and their names are on several records. He says that to shorten the cour- se would in effect detract from the historical integrity and wipe out all the accomplishments of conoeists in past years. Is there not room. for some compromise here? Mr. Jammer feels strongly enough that he tendered his resignation from the Race Committee: over the shortened course issue. That's too bad because Canoe the Nonguon. needs people pitching in to help. How about leaving the 20 mile original course for those com- petitive canoeists who want to tackle it and for the others who simply want to paddle for enjoyment and to be part of the day's activity, offer a shorter, less arduous course? Surely if the top 'notch competitors started from the 8th Concession early in the 'morning, the rest could start at the 10th concession later on and they would not be in each other's way. This is only a suggestion and maybe there are reasons why it is un-workable The idea of (Turn to page 8) a "On.RON .... BRIAN Here / No, THE GLY WITH THE IRISH EYES / Anyway, KONNIE, YOUR ABILITY TO. FORGET. I'D LIKE TO TAP $0ME OF YOUR MANY TALENTS | coo. WHATS THE SECRET ? Am y N\ Port Perr Y j & CNA J | | DAN : Fe 235 QUEEN STREET - PORT 1% Phone 985-7383 PO Box90 LOB INO J. PETER HVIDSTEN * Me Der Of . Publisher Canadian Commun:ty Newspaper Associals and Ontaro New Laer ASsSOCiatr Advertising Manager J.B. McCLELLAND Editor Au 1 3 yt, CATHY OLLIFFE °F - News & Features oe L] Ma Rey N " t Subscription Rate In Canada $15 00 per year Elsewhere $45 00 per year Single Copy 35° OCOPYRIGHT -- All layout and composition of adver tisements produced by the adver tising department of the Port Perry Star C ombany Limded are protected under copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permesson of He publisher - Chatterbox by Cathy Olliffe NO THANKS With the Port Perry High School Reunion right around the corner, I've been giving a great deal of thought to my own high school. } Although it seems like I've lived in Port Perry forever, I haven't, and actually attended Markham District High School for five years. I'd like to say they were five glorious years, but they weren't. Not for me. Not at all. In fact, 1 didn't find high school glorious at all school reunion. Not that I want to dissuade people from atten- ding the Port Perry High School reunion. I don't. And more than likely, I'll be at this reunion as well, know what? I'll probably have a good time. After all. I didn't go to Port High. I don't have the bad memories at this high school. that 1 have tucked away from my own. I hated high school. With the possible exception of Grade 13. when 1 came into my own and discovered you don't have to have the acceptance of your peers to enjoy yourself. By Grade 13. the kids who don't want to be in high school. who don't need good grades in order to further their education. are gone. The tough kids. the rebels. the bullies are long gone Only those students who are serious about their homework remain, and these students are usually too busy doing that homework to be concerned about others At Markham District High School « MDHS more than 2.500 students roamed the halls in a huge metropolis that was more of a village than a school Unlike Port. or Cartwright High School. everyone did not know evervone else personally Sure. you knew people to see them to a certain ex- tent, but closer to the truth. rumour. by reputation You knew them as being part of the cheerleading squad. the football team. the druggies. the hippies, the nerds. or that small group of people who nobody really knew at all. those ghosts wha simply went to classes and disappeardd afte ™ ards. without leaving a mark i If you were 4 member of a team. popular I vou good-looking. vou popular If you were a rebel. you were popular. and even if you were extraordinarily smart. vou were relatively popular because everyone else you to help them with their homework Unfortunately. everyone else was unpopular and therefore teased unmereilesshy 1 was un popular, and so were my friends. because we were labeled nerds The nerd label started way public school. when | moved to Markham next door to a boy my age named Mark Because Mark lived close to our family. 'we became fast friends vou knew people by were were * Mdanted GUN in and because we were the same age. and through many stages of my hfe. when I didn't have a best girlfriend. he was and wouldn't pay anyone a penny to go to my high covering the events for this newspaper. And vou 'bevond his age when it came to clothes or music, ¢ didn't know or understand. You were "he spent a night out with one of the mos! promising my best friend. : Even in public school, Mark _ suffered abuse from the hands of fellow students. Extremely ar- tistic, intelligent and soft-spoken, with ideas far Mark was labelled a *'fag", even in public school. He didn't play any sports, wasn't interested in hockey or football, and because of this, boys his age. so concerned about establishing a macho image. cruelly teased Mark and beat him up on a regular basis. The abuse continued through high * schol and because I was his friend, walking to and from school - with him each day, I too suffered the same abuse. The expression *'kids can be cruel" is an under- statement. I would come home in tears on many an occassion, and yet Mark kept his emotions inside. Mark knew who and what he was, even then. He was secure in the knowledge that he wasn't gay or even effeminate, and somehow weathered the storm. I couldn't handle it the same way he could. nor could I understand it. All I knew is that I hated high school, absolutely hated it. and detested the smug righteousness of '"'popular'" kids who paraded through the hallways of MDHS like they owned the joint. uncaringly throwing stones at people they "When we get to university. it'll be difierent." Mark used to say. and he was right. In university. Mark shone. There. people ap- preciated his originality. his brilhance. his artistic abilities. In university, Mark suddenly became one of the most popular young people on campus Suddenly. the former nerd had more giritr ends than he knew what to do with. And his popuk arity continues. These days. Mark looks and feels fan- tastic. His job. managing one of Markham"s most expensive galleries. is high-powered and well- paving. He is trim and constantly suntanned He just came back from a trip to C alifornia. where he helped organize an exclusive art show. and where and gorgeous) starlets gf Hollywood. Mark 1s iy his element. and is the envy of many former students of MDHS who used to persect ute him. You'd think he would jump at the chance to return to a high school reunion and rub it in their CUS Not al He doesn't need to throw his success in anyone d face. and he wants nothing more 0 do with the buildings where some of his worst years took place And | don't blame him. I feel the same. wd? have no sentimentality towards the ugliness MDHS and 1 don't care if 1 ever see its former students gagam For me. show om high school was a five year hotrt" I< 11) And who wants to re-live those Kind memories' .