Townshippers’ Fest offers MV alumni a trip down memory lane
Aschool is always at its best when the halls are full and bustling.
Most of the time it’s with students, but thanks to the partnership between Townshippers’ Association and the Eastern Townships School Board, for the second year now the association’s annual gathering is happening at a local high school.
Last year, Richmond Regional High School used the opportunity to organize a reunion to coincide with Townshippers’ Festival.
This year, it’s Massey Vanier Regional High School’s turn to host visitors from across the Townships. It just so happens the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
If those walls could speak, they would have some interesting stories to tell.
“It’s great,” commented ETSB Chairman Mike Murray, referring to the festival happening on school grounds.
“Most people don’t revisit high school,” Murray explained. “They can take a trip down memory lane and relive some exciting moments.”
Murray added that most adults who return to a school remark that it is a lot smaller than they remembered it.
“For the school it’s exciting,” Murray added, saying the event is a great opportunity to show what has changed, not only in the buildings, but also within the education system.
“We hope to have an adequate display of student work and activities,” Murray said.
“Townshippers’ always has a lot of people exhibit different crafts and local products, it’s fascinating,” Murray said, happy ETSB schools can be the backdrop to highlight and celebrate people from the community.
“We hope to integrate the dynamism of the school into that,” Murray said.
The chairman added that each school is unique. The three-year plan to rotate the festival among the local high schools allows visitors to learn what’s new at each institution.
Richmond has an interesting robotics program, Murray pointed out, and Massey Vanier has a flight simulator and aviation program available to students.
For Townshippers who are new to the area, the festival will be an opportunity to make new friends and connect with one of the area’s high schools. For MVHS grads, it will be a chance to see how the school has changed over the years. Even students from Richmond and Galt will likely feel nostalgic at the upcoming Townshippers’ Festival, remembering the rivalry between sports teams, or visits to Massey Vanier for other activities and events.