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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2000 - 7 Millennium reunion planned for Brooklin school By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Kids in the country slugged it out in all kinds of weather, often trekking up to 10 miles daily to and from school. Others arrived by horse and buggy or sleigh in the winter. And if you think it's alarming when stu- dents go on strike nowadays, it's really nothing new. In the early 40s senior stu- dents at Brooklin Continuation School went on a three-day strike, over washroom privileges. These recollections and countless oth- ers will be recalled fondly by former stu- dents when they get together for a grand homecoming this fall at a millennium reunion in Brooklin. Since last spring a committee com- prised of Helen Alves, Jeanne Koster, Marion Rice, Jean Johnston, Nancy Grylls and Kay Murray has been working dili- gently, gathering information on former students. Invitations to the grand reunion, slated for Oct. 28, 2000, are being mailed out later this month. "My class was the last one to graduate," says Mrs. Koster, 61. "That means we're looking for former students 60 years of age and older." The committee has obtained most of its information about former students through old school photographs dated from 1924 to 1954. But there are gaps, par- ticularly in the 1930s and early 40s, said Ms Alves, "probably due to the depression and war years. "We have attempted to find if old school | Staying in Touch JOHN R. O'TOOLE MPP DURHAM EAST You probably realize that the Ontario Legislature will not resume sitting until after the March school break. However, you should also know that all members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) are assigned duties during this down time. MPPs are expected to meet with con- stituents, local boards, councils and anyone with issues that they wish to dis- cuss. | have already been meeting with my constituents. There are a number of pieces of legislation that will be taken out for public meetings. The two bills that | will be responsible for are the Franchise Act and the Collections Agencies Act. There are also a number of consultations on issues ranging from budget input to intensive agriculture operations. | am also the co- chair of the committee examining the gas price issue. If you require additional information or details on dates, time and place for any of the consultations, please call my community office at 697-1501 or 1-800- 661-2433. i The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) announced changes prior to Christmas. Recently, reports on agriculture from other provinces and indeed other countries have been dra- matic and troubling. You may have seen the CBC report on the family farm from the prairies. You may have witnessed Federal Agricultural Minister, Lyle Vanclief being roughed up in Winnipeg and the recent demonstrations in Seattle A millennium reunion is being held on October 28, 2000 for all former students who ala attended Brooklin Continuation School from 1924 - 1954. Since last spring the committee of (front row, L-R) Jean Koster (Reazin), Nancy Grylls (Townsend), Kay Murray (Hamilton) and (back row, L-R) Helen Alves, Jean Johnston (Duval) and Marion Rice (Reazin) has been tracking down addresses of former students. attendance records were kept, but it seems there are none in the Archives of Ontario or the Durham Region School Archives," she said. Although Brooklin Continuation School opened in 1924, the need for a new school was perceived years before. In 1920 there was an old school on during World Trade Organization (WTO) conference. Agriculture and world trade are very complicated and hot issues. Many economists are forecasting fewer small family farms and more factory farms operations, which means more food being produced using less land and fewer farmers. This complex debate also centres on genetically altered food, unfair agricul- tural subsidies in Europe and the United States and finally, world trade. This debate is not simply about food pro- duction, but is all about power. Over the past few years, there have been many strategic studies on the future of agricul- ture in Ontario. Reports by the Farmers of Ontario as well as the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Services Study (ARASS) have been reviewed. Some have said during the past few years that Ontario's policy has been soft and lacking a focussed plan. The province has decided to move strategically and consolidate its human expertise and resources in fewer build- ings and locations. The focus will be on | expert research and technology so Ontario agriculture will remain globally competitive into the future. Food safety and quality is a top priority. This deals with intensive farming, rural water quality and use, pesticide use and food pro- cessing. Technology transfer, or informa- tion sharing, will be centralized and dis- persed using the latest technological methods. Ontario produces almost 25 per cent of Canada's agricultural product and it is our second largest economic sector in both the province and Durham riding. Recently, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture produced a report indicating that the Greater Toronto Area produces more agricultural wealth than some entire provinces. Winchester Road, across from where the arena is located today. And there were the Dryden, Sinclair and Spencer one- room country schools. That year it was felt there was a need to build one central school, which would house all the students from the surrounding vicinities. But the initiative was defeated. However, when the old Brooklin School was condemned in 1923, there was an urgent need to build a new facility, the Brooklin Continuation School, at the corner of Winchester Road and Highway12. While the school was being constructed classes were held in the United Church basement, the Masonic Hall and the Township Hall.. The new school had three rooms on the main floor for public school students, and two rooms on the second floor for high school students from Grades 9 to 12. Those wishing to complete Grade 13 had to travel to Whitby High School. That system remained in place until June of 1948, at which time the Continuation School offered classes only for-Grade 9 and 10 students. When the new Meadowcrest subdivision was built in 1954 the population greatly increased, causing a student overload. Starting in September of 1954, all high school students went to Whitby by bus, thus ending the 30-year era of high school in Brooklin. "To date we have identified over 500 names through old school photographs," said Ms Alves. She hopes to be sending out invitations to more than half this num- ber. And it's hoped the reunion will be held in a new school currently being built in Brooklin. : If anyone is aware of students who attended school during these years, you're asked to please pass the information on, or get in touch with Nancy Grylls at 655- 3275 or Helen Alves at 985-0216. Straight Talk 0]7] ALEX SHEPHERD DURHAM M.P. Tonight when we sit for dinner few of us will contemplate how the food on our tables got there. Durham, being both urban and rural, reflects this disconnec- tion. Urban children often think food sim- ply comes from the supermarket. They are somewhat oblivious to our local farm communities and the commitment farm families and their employees, make toward our nourishment and survival. I've worked on farms myself. | under- stand the long hours and constant com- mitment needed to run farming opera- tions. | In Canada the most efficient farming operations have been family ones. Why? Well these families have been brought up in a tradition of understanding the daily obligations needed and the need to work as a unit. I have tremendous respect for chil- dren brought up on a farm. They are never at a loss for something to do, they do well in school and from my experience rarely get into trouble. I along with some of my colleagues have organized a Farm Family Tribute to take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Jan. 16 between | and 5 p.m. It's amazing; as soon as you mention the plight of some of our farming com- munities very quickly successful enter- tainer, who have a connection with rural life, donate time to increase awareness of problems on family farms and rural Canada. - Gordon Lightfoot, Burton Cummings, Ronnie Hawkins, Bachman, Sylvia Tyson, Sharon, Lois and Bram, Fred Penner, Jimmy Rankin (Rankin Family), Michael Burgess, Wide Mouth Mason, Big Sugar and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra are just part of the line up. Tickets are $20, $15 and $10. The event is not about mak- ing money. But it is about giving our urban cousins a chance to take a step back and contemplate the commitment farm families make toward our nation's quality of life. While agricultural production contin- ues to increase in Canada the actual number of family farm operations con- tinues to decline. The average age of the Canadian farmer is around 65. All of us take food availability very much for granted, but the future doesn't look all that certain. At one time it was thought anybody marketing concepts, and the widespread use of technology, farmers have to have a wealth of knowledge. They deal with fluctuations in com- modity markets often determined by events on the other side of the world. Then there is the proper use of herbi- cides and other chemicals as farmers Randy work toward creating a more environ- mentally sustainable business. And they have to be business people as well. If you can farm successfully, likely, you can work almost any business successfully since farming has more variables than any other business | know. I'm pleased to be associated with a group working to increase awareness of family farms. We should all take time to think about it as well. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Air Canada Centre box office. _-- could farm. Today, with sophisticated !