Main Page	Then and Now	Catching Up	Trackdown	Links	Contact Us
	Here's where we can keep each other up to date on classmates in the news or brag about something we're doing ourselves.

Posted Mar. 28, 2021 - Classmate Phil O'Hara was the subject of a story in the Halifax Herald in March. Read the story here. Phil is battling some serious health issues and we wish him all the best.

 

Posted Feb. 17, 2017 Gwen Quigley Wilson (in green jacket) and an intrepid band of marchers in Sandy Cove, Digby Co., made headlines around the world. Read the CBC story here.

 
Posted Jan. 22, 2017
Bryan Wood sent the following update:

Once again, I am remiss in my check in but happy to report I am still on this side of the grass and all my loved ones are well. Oh yes, very important news, I am a grandfather! At last! Our grandson Phillip Michael Wood was born on June 15, 2015 at the IWK and is now on the verge of finding his feet and showing signs of being every bit as crazy as his great grandfather (my Dad Phillip), grandfather (me) and father (my son, Mark). He was named after my father who is very happy to see the family name carried on and quite possibly set a high jump record for 94-year olds because he was so happy when he received the news.

Other than that, I am enjoying retirement, well sort of�I have taken part time work as a tour guide with Ambassatours and if any of my fellow alumni think they have seen me wearing a kilt and hear me giving commentary in Spanish, well they are not imagining things! Really it is great fun and I will continue to belatedly live up to Mrs. Kennedy�s trust in me by being a multilingual guide (English, Spanish, French, learning German and can do it in Russian if required). No more running or speed skating for me as my knees went on strike but I still stay active.

Best wishes to all my colleagues�.Bryan

Posted Mar. 7, 2015
Doug Stuewe recently sent this report: "Our family located in the East Coast Estates in Rideau Forest, Manotick has prospered. We are blessed with four great kids (20 something's) and a grandson and grandaughter. We are off to the Mayan this year for the wedding of my brother David's stunning daughter Anna Stuewe. Life is good here in Ottawa but even the most die hard cold weather person needs a winter break. Will send photos once I eliminate this pastie white look I have going.

All the Best,

Doug Stuewe

PS- I still do not have an over abundance of common sense. Last summer I did my first Spartan race without training! Ignorance is not always bliss but we survived. This year onto the the Spartan Super and the Sprint and, yes, we will train for the race this time.

Congratulations to Dr. Cathy Campbell who was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, 2014. You can read Cathy's story here.

Here's a link talking about Ken Lee's current activities in Australia.

Below is a photo from another Smith Family wedding. This one is son Sam. Our new daughter-in-law is Abby Corbin from Lower Sackville, NS. Both Sam and Abby are RCMP constables in Alberta. Sadly all four Smith kids are now out west. Jake and Ian are in Calgary and Allison (with husband Mike Lowe) is in Langley, B.C.

Newcomer Ardra Cole says she enjoyed seeing many familiar faces on our website. "While at QE I spent more time on the hill and outside Marg's store than in the classroom but it seemed to work out okay just the same. I live on the South Shore with my three dogs and still stay in touch with some of the "gang" from back then."

In announcing the upcoming induction of Cathy Campbell the Nova SCotia Sports Hall of Fame said "Halifax�s Campbell made her mark in sports medicine and coaching, making significant contributions to numerous national soccer teams and on the career of Canadian track and field champion Cecilia Branch for eight years. Campbell was team physician for Canada�s women�s soccer team for 10 years."

The first golf game of the year for classmates Rob Gordon (left) and Greg Snow, proved to be no bargain thanks to strong winds, a low temperature, and rain. Hot drinks and several layers of clothing were needed to get through all 18 holes. By mutual agreement the score will never be revealed.

Submitted Aug. 6, 2012 Here's classmate Cathy Campbell (fourth from left) in London with fellow staff members from the Canadian Womens soccer team during the London Olympics.

Submitted Oct. 10, 2011 Bryan Wood sends this report about his son's wedding. "My new daughter-in-law is Anna Hanuschuk who grew up in the Northwest Territories but whose father is from Winnipeg and mother from Cape Breton (both teachers). The wedding took place near our cottage at Albert Bridge in Cape Breton and the photos were taken at Mira Gut. It rained that morning but the clouds miraculously parted as we got to the church. I was on the spot after but managed to come through and barbecue the roast beef and planked salmon just right for the mini reception back at our cottage after the wedding. It was a small affair, just for immediate family, best men and maids of honour but we had a big reception the week after in Halifax for the rest of the relatives and friends. It really could not have gone any better....phew! Weddings can be nervous affairs for us parents! After a honeymoon in England and Ireland, Mark and Anna are now back in Calgary."

Submitted Jan. 28, 2012 Steve and Jeannette Smith were on hand at the RCMP office in Halifax as son Sam signed his life over to the Mounties. He's now in Regina at the RCMP boot camp..

Submitted Oct. 3, 2011 Les Grieve reports he had a visit from Dave Stuewe (elder brother of classmate Doug) in Calgary in July. The two of them consulted the QEHS yearbook to see how much better they look now.

Submitted Aug.8, 2011 Ken Lee continues to make sub surface waves with his nose for nautical science. He sends along this link to the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research.

And while Ken Lee continues to work under the waves Steve Smith is more than content to just ride on them. The summer has been a poor one weather-wise so when he got the chance he grabbed his boogie board and headed for Conrads Beach. The water was relatively warm (ie- it took almost twice as long as normal to go numb) and the waves were okay. Hopefully there'll be a few more good weather days before summer expires.

Submitted June 27, 2011 Ruth Legge's book is off the presses. The story was in the Antigonish Casket.

I'm not an expert enough photographer to do a good job on the low-light that was left inside the building but here are a few shots that may be of interest.

Ken Lee was off to Louisiana to do his bit against leaking oil. The story was in the Halifax Herald.

"At work they call me the "Podfather". We sit in areas they call pods and, because I look a bit like a mafia boss when I put my outfit on, they gave me the nickname. It's well known at work if you need to know something or get something you talk to the podfather."  

Last month we reported the death of classmate Bill Dompierre. Bill was an active community volunteer, a fact that was noted in this article in the Chronicle Herald. 
 

"I was privileged to be part of a phenomenal moment where our Joints in Motion team waited for our last participant to cross the finish line, and then broke into a spontaneous rendition of Oh Canada. Our Italian hosts (who were fantastic) then sang their rousing national anthem "Fratelli d'Italia". This all took place in the stunning Piazza di la Liberta in Trieste. You can see both on You Tube. You'll see me singing but mercifully, the voices of others drown me out!

"Other than that, and undergoing a background check as a possible British football hooligan when I went to see a soccer match in Trieste, I had a phenomenal time. My French teachers at QEH would be simply amazed at my progress in the Italian language considering they hardly got a peep out of me back then! Let's just say I was inspired!"

"I held him in my hands within seconds of his birth and have loved him every moment since, so to be a part of this ceremony as he begins his career is an especially happy moment for me," Les told the graduating class.

Stuewe Family (l-r) Chris Stuewe, Ashley Stuewe, Lyne Stuewe, Karla Stuewe, Dan Mittleman, Liane Stuewe, Doug Stuewe

We really like our new son-in-law, Dan, and his family. Both Karla and Dan are media and promotions urbanites so the wedding had to be held at the Distillery District (like Privateers Warehouse, only larger). I must say the wedding planner earned her money. Before the weekend I didn't have a clue what they did. The evening went off like clockwork and the party went very late.

The wedding was a complete blast with a couple of hundred trendy beautiful people and then us, the East Coast Crew. So folks if you hear of Karla Stuewe/Mettleman that's my little girl and I am a very proud father.

As an interesting follow up to Doug's contribution we received this from Tessa Hebb:
"I couldn't believe it when I read Doug Stuewe's posting about his daughter Karla's wedding and realized that my doctoral student research assistant here at Carleton University, Robert Mittelman, is the brother of the groom! Now I know for everyone in Halifax such coincidence is the norm - but in Ottawa these kind of six degrees of separation rarely happen! Congratulations, Doug - these are important days - and I heard the wedding was a great success!"

Proud uncle Doug says that James "is an honest, intelligent, young man with great charimsa and the desire to make Halifax an even better place." You can learn more about him at www.stuewe.ca. I don't know, Doug. He sounds a little green to be a true-blue Tory. Perhaps Tessa Hebb can recruit him to the NDP.

Writes Bryan: " I recall a man whose patience I occasionally pushed to the limit but who always had our best interests at heart. I always sensed an underlying friendliness in him and will never forget the time we had the rare pleasure of having him as a substitute when our regular teacher was ill. He was indeed a remarkable teacher and could breathe life into any subject. I left QEH with tremendous respect for him."

Norm wrote: "Like me, anyone who made it to the "Last Chance Reunion" was probably amazed to see how well he was doing at that time. It's quite a loss for all of us, I'm sure."

Iona MacLean: "It was wonderful to see him last year at the reunion. His voice and dignified manner were instantly recognizable and he looked much younger than his years. What a great life!"

Before I give the details, I must mention that I was part of a terrific team of almost 50 people representing the Arthritis Society of Canada's Joints in Motion program, running and walking for the millions of Canadians who live with arthritis. Arthritis has been an unwelcome visitor to my family so this is a cause that has great personal meaning. Our team raised over $80-thousand in the fight against arthritis. In addition the marathon itself had a real emphasis on charity. We were one of many teams representing various causes. I was especially touched by "We are MacMillan" of the UK, an organisation that provides care for those afflicted with cancer throughout the UK (including my uncle). I made sure to give them a few pounds and wear their green paper clip badge on my lime green Joints in Motion singlet because I found their runners and organisers to be especially welcoming. The whole event was very inspirational.

OK..how did I do in the race? To borrow a local expression, I'm gobsmacked at how well it turned out for me. I did the 26 miles in 3 hours 51 minutes. I was the 2,198th person to finish, far behind the leaders but still well ahead of most of the pack of 14,000. I only broke my pace briefly on three occasions, twice to check on teammates and once to make sure I properly chewed the jelly babies and chocolate biscuits a kind spectator had given me as energy to get me to the finish.

Even better, there was an article in the local newspaper the following day that suggested the strong facing winds for most of the race meant most runners were 10 minutes slower than they would have been in more favourable conditions. If that is true, then the Boston Marathon may well be in my reach, I would just need to find 5 more minutes to qualify...so much for slowing down to eat jelly babies! (The qualifying time for Boston also goes up by 5 minutes when I hit 55 next month.)

Cold, overcast and very windy conditions notwithstanding, I really enjoyed the course. We started at a high point in central Edinburgh and then ran out to the coast. While we didn't touch Dumbledykes Road or other place names straight out of a Sir Walter Scott novel, we did run along interestingly named Lochend Road, Leith Links and Salamander Street before hitting the coast and passing through seaside towns with euphonic Scottish names such as Prestonpans, Cockenzie, and Longniddry. As our route brought us the shoreline of the Firth of Forth at Portobello at about mile five, I thought I had run into the remnants of Hurricane Juan and dreaded the thought of hard slogging for two hours into that wind. But I gritted my teeth and held on to my hat...sure enough, by mile 15, the sun poked out and my spirit was lifted. A few miles on, a real treat was in store as the local Earl kindly permitted the racers to pass through his estate and by his home, Gosford House (its really a palace). Shortly after that, I hit the turning point, the wind was at my back and if anything, the last eight miles were easier than the first. I had enough fuel in my tank to sprint to the finish at Musselburgh Race Course (it was surely the jelly babies) and told the Global reporter who interviewed me after "I could have gone a few miles more!" (a reporter and cameraman from Global accompanied the team).

Lest anyone think I have delusions of being a great marathoner like Abebe Bekele or Paula Radcliffe, the truth is that I probably couldn't even take on a one legged Ethiopian with a 50-pound handicap weight on his back. Still, for an almost 55-year-old who has tossed aside a sedentary life style and dropped 40 pounds in recent years, this is pretty heady stuff. I couldn't make the QEH hockey team and didn't have a clue what I was doing in football (should have stuck to soccer!) but I can say I have found athletic satisfaction at long last. Next up is the 10 km Canada Day run in Halifax and then the Bar Harbour half marathon in September. Next May, I hope to go with the Joints in Motion Team to Trieste in Italy and do the whole 26 miles again. As mentioned at the top, I do raise funds for the Arthritis Society so if any of you wish to help, please contact me, any donation would be greatly appreciated.

"It was a warm muggy day in January and in addition to my medals, I have the tan lines from my singlet and probably should have used a bit more sun screen. There were lots of laughs during the race, especially with the folks who couldn't, or wouldn't, wait for the portable potties (those were gross anyway!) and went to pee in the bushes at the side of the road. Invariably, some wag (OK...I was one of them!) would yell: 'Hey, don't you know there are poisenous snakes in Florida?' or 'don't go too deep in the woods! What the alligators don't get, the buzzards will!'

"Ahhh...wasn't there a 1971 song 'I wouldn't trade this for all the tea in China!' What an experience! We also had a magnificent cheer team of friends and relatives and I enclosed a shot they took of me as I was making my way to Magic Kingdom on Sunday morning at about 7:30 a.m. Geez...back at QEH, I wouldn't even be awake at that time!"

In other developments, Bryan bumped into Bill Shaw not once but twice this week. The first time, he was cleaning his walk as Bryan ran by in the Running Room's Resolution Run (Bryan did stop to shake Bill's hand and wish him happy new year). The second time was at Dalplex and Bill was complaining bitterly about how he feels he is about to croak due to all the cold weather and the shovelling he has to do (no worries there as the energy that went into his complaints reassured Bryan that there is nothing wrong with his heart or his vocal chords!).

"Latest news for me," says Bryan, "is that I depart with the Joints in Motion Team for Goofy's Challenge next weekend at Disneyworld. My role will be go out on the course for both the half marathon on Saturday (those who successfully do it get a Donald Duck Medal) and the full marathon on Sunday (those who successfully do it get a Mickey Mouse Medal) and encourage our team members to give it their best shot. If I can get myself across the finish line for both events, then I will get a Goofy Medal (yes, I must be truly Goofy to think I can do this!)."

"We had many injuries so often my only sight seeing was taxi rides to find x-ray facilities with various athletes who needed attention," she says.

Even though, to assist in acclimatization, the team stopped in Japan and Singapore for a week prior to landing in China, there were things to overcome. "It's always a challenge," she says. "From supervising foods that meet the needs of the team (including two vegans) to dealing with pulmonary problems."

The team had done some pulmonary testing on an earlier trip to China but, she says, "the air pollution was terrible" leading to a variety of interventions to assist with breathing problems.

"World Cups (this was her sixth) are always stressful from many different perspectives. I wouldn't call them 'fun' but they are very stimulating and challenging and there are always things that happen that push me to do things that I might not normally have to deal with in a normal medical practice situation."

In one case she had to sew up a severe facial laceration while sitting on a cement floor in Thailand in 40 degree celcius temperature. Normally in Canada, an injury like that would go to a hospital emergency room and a plastic surgeon would do the work. She's happy to say her handiwork turned out beautifully, by the way.

She compares the stress of a World Cup to the "euphoric feeling" that one gets after a hard workout that is not felt during the workout.

This is not just a weekend jaunt, either. "The trip is usually a month on the road and, from a medical perspective, requires a lot of pre-trip preparation, assessing supplies and reviewing probable/possible scenarios to prepare packing materials. I thoroughly review all the various website info sites on the city and country that we are visiting at least six months prior to the trip to insure that immunizations, etcetera are all dealt with as well."

Although the team didn't perform as well as expected Cathy is reluctant to blame China for the poor results. She says there will be a full debriefing in November when the team gets back together to prepare for Olympic qualification which will be in March 2008.

The game proceeded as expected with a minimum of skill and a maximum of laughs. This "best ball" racket is the best thing that ever happened to hackers like us. Mr. Snow made one of the most remarkable shots I've ever seen when, on the eighth hole, he hit a tee shot but did not move the ball off the tee. This was not just a simple whiff like all of us have had. He actually hit the ball (we heard the tick) without moving it off his wooden tee. Try and do that on purpose.

The game took a grimer turn on the 11th hole when Greg slipped in the mud on the tee and twisted his knee. This on the first hole when all of us had actually made decent tee shots and we debated what to do with Greg as he writhed in pain in the mud. Eventually we decided, reluctantly, we had to take him back to the clubhouse. This reminded me of the old joke where the golfer comes home late.
"What took you so long?" asks his wife.
"Oh, Harry had a heart attack on the fifth hole."
"Oh, that must have been terrible," she says.
"I'll say it was. Hit the ball, drag Harry! Hit the ball, drag Harry!"

We tried to jam ourselves, our golf bags, one golf cart, and Greg's unbendable leg into Rob's Toyota but it was no go, so we had to call an ambulance. Greg, it turns out, tore his MCL and probably his ACL, as if he were a real athlete. He's looking at surgery, perhaps next week. I'm sure he'd appreciate a get-well note from some of his former classmates. Contact him through the Then and Now section.

The following is condensed from her obituary in the Herald:

MADER, Marjorie Elizabeth - 93, Halifax, died at home on September 28, 2007. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Born September 20, 1914, in Bridgewater. Her family moved to Halifax in 1927, when she was 13.

Educated at Dalhousie University, she graduated with her B.A. in 1935, and her Masters degree in German in 1937. Upon graduation she taught in Halifax, at Tower Road School, and also in Kentville. She took a year sabbatical which she spent in Ottawa studying the workings of the federal government.

At the outbreak of World War II in 1939 she was recruited by the British Army because of her knowledge of German and was assigned to British Intelligence throughout the war years. When the war ended she taught English and German in Berlin in the British Sector.

She returned to Canada in 1947 and taught English at Trafalgar School for Girls in Montreal until 1950. She returned to Halifax and taught for many years in the Halifax school system, retiring as Vice Principal of Queen Elizabeth High School, Halifax, in 1977.

She was active in the Nova Scotia Teachers Union for many years and a long-time member of First Baptist Church. In the same characteristic fashion that she embraced life, Marjorie attended the July 2007 QEH "Last Chance" Reunion and was able to meet many of her former students.

E-mail condolences to: condolences.snow@ns.aliantzinc.ca

"The course was great and I took part in a lot of good natured banter in both official languages with other participants both at the start and the finish. Rick and Cathy from St. Catherines and Caroline from Rivi�re du Loup became instant friends. I think Mrs. Kennedy, my French teacher at QEH, would have been proud of me. I gave it my best effort to speak as much French as possible. For some of you, the language might trip easily off the tongue but for me it's a bit more of a struggle. Federal Opposition Leader St�phane Dion was on hand at the finish line to shake hands with the participants. I must have said something right to him because he did not immediately switch into English when I thanked him for his congratulations. Yeah, maybe he was politicking but I thought it was a nice touch. All in all, it was a superbly organized event in one of my favourite cities."

Don McLean (blue shirt) makes a point as (l-r) Bryan Wood, Sam Fried and Debbie Sanschagrin (nee Moore) look on. Ten members of the QEH Class of 1971 held a mini-reunion on July 29, 2007 at The Victory Arms in Halifax.

July30, 2007-- Back to Weight Watchers for me after meeting so many former QEH classmates who are in much better shape then I am. I actually prefer Ken Lee's theory that he and I are normal while all these thin people are sadly flawed (but I'm going to start counting points anyway).

Ten of us from 1971 had pleasant conversation and a tasty lunch (courtesy of Don McLean) on Sunday, July 29. We were, in alphabetical order, Sam Fried, Ross Hallet, Ken Lee, Don McLean, Ted Migas, Debbie Moore (now Sanschagrin), Judy Moulton (now MacLean), Bill Shaw, Steve Smith, and Bryan Wood.

Many tales were told and memories exchanged. The words "whatever happened to..." were a popular phrase. Bill Shaw dazzled us all with his amazing recall of things such as our student numbers from grade 6 and his unhappiness with those who had picked on him in the old days (good memory, bad temper). E-mail addresses were swapped and we all promised to stay in touch.