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Vic High grads seek out classmates for 50th reunion

Nearly 600 students graduated from Victoria High School in 1969
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The graduating class of 1969 was 580 students. This year marks the 50th anniversary, and locals are trying to organize a reunion. (File Contributed/ Eric Earl)

The year 1969 was a time like no other, especially for nearly 600 students who graduated from Victoria High School.

“Imagine, right after we graduated… seeing astronauts walk on the moon. The next weekend was Woodstock,” said Vic High grad Adelle Hatch (formerly Zannet). “It was really quite the year; there were so many things happening, lots of parties, even love-ins in Bastion Square.”

Now, 50 years later, graduates from the class are seeking out their classmates for a celebratory reunion.

“We’re really trying to let them know, who knows if there will be a 60th reunion,” Hatch said.

At their 40th reunion there were around 130 attendees, while so far for the 50th they’ve heard back from 50 people. While some classmates are on social media, most are not, making it hard to track them down.

The grad class of 1969 had 580 students, including Adelle Zannet (Now Adelle Hatch), pictured bottom, centre. (Vic High Yearbook 1969/ Eric Earl)

Besides being the 50th anniversary, this year also offers Vic High alumni a last chance at seeing the school as it once was, as it will soon see major renovations and seismic upgrades.

READ MORE: Completion date for seismic upgrades to Vic High pushed to 2022

“Vic High will close down, and there won’t be any more tours,” Hatch said. “We want to go through the school on a tour, and especially visit the attic which is a big deal.”

For over 65 years Vic High grads have signed their names and messages in the school’s attic, which had previously been a rifle range where students could practise before heading off to war.

READ MORE: Vic High grads may be last students to take part in 65-year tradition

After a school tour, Hatch said the class will rent out Norway House and have a “House Party” themed event with music played by the Vic High R&B band.

On the night of the grad, many students headed to a then hot-spot, Club Tango, a club where Hatch said it was normal to bring in your liquor in a paper bag and drink it under the table.

“We’ve been saying ‘Club Tango might be gone, but Club Norway is not,’” Hatch says with a laugh.

She recalled that on her grad night it had been the first time in her life she’d ever stayed out all night.

“Oh my God, I’d have never made my mom and dad mad, but we were allowed to stay out,” Hatch said. “We had breakfast at 5 a.m. at Mac’s and they had silver dollar pancakes for a buck.”

The reunion is scheduled for Friday, May 10 starting at 3 p.m.

For more information, you can visit vichigh.com/reunions