To the Editor,
I attended an ADSS ‘56 Grad reunion luncheon a few days ago held in Richmond and took along some interior photos of Port Alberni’s new high school I’d taken while on a tour with Sarah Falls, the school’s (ADSS) music director.
All those viewing the photos were extremely impressed with the beautiful building.
However, a classmate at the reunion mentioned that the graduation class photos that were hung each year in the old ADSS since the opening of the school would not be mounted in the new building. The reason given was something about lack of wall space and the photos not being aesthetically acceptable.
Most, including myself were quite dismayed.
Later, coming home on the ferry there was a group of Port Alberni retirees returning from a bus trip to Banff.
Once again the new school was discussed and one of them who’d attended the spring open house of the old school mentioned that the grad class photos would be boxed and buried.
My opinion, and that of many others, is that this decision should be reversed.
When I taught at the high school there was a committee that worked diligently with some success to contact alumni in hopes of raising more scholarship funds. Their connection to the Alberni Valley in many cases comes through the memories these photos convey.
I know ADSS will be holding an open house before Christmas for citizens to view the new school.
No doubt many will be looking for and asking about the old grad photos.
I’m sure with some innovative architectural investigation, a way can be found to keep this ADSS heritage link in place. As the old cliché goes, “Look back to where you have been, for a clue to where you are going”.
Barry Miller,
Nanaimo
