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Rocket & Pocket Richard |
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Explore Other Years |
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I was part of the graduates 58 of 1958. I had a dislocation of my left knee cap on the basketball court in winter of 1958. In August of 1958, I broke my knee cap on a surveying job in Southern Alberta. I had an operation in Lethbridge Hospital to remove my left knee cap. I was paid by W.C.B. So I went back to W.C.H in September 1958 to upgrade my marks and credits. I walked around with a leg cast, crutches and a cane. (Some will remember me hobbling along the school halls). I probably was the only person at that time that got paid to back to school. I ended up with 120 credits. Doris (Friemen) Fraser was editing the yearbook in 1958. She had contacted me during covid. Sorry she won't be there to go over some of those times.
I have been a building contractor,
but in the 35 years I have driven commercial vehicles. I own
Ambassador Transportation in Victoria BC. |
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I was born in Wetaskiwin 1940 and started school in the Old Alexander, then the New QE and the Old Army camp and then the new Composite High School. Went on to Attend the U of A and received two degrees, BPE and BEd. Taught Phy Ed for 15 years, in various communities - Edmonton, Viking, Sylvan Lake, Grande Prairie, Wetaskiwin, Sherwood Park. Spent all my time coaching teams and creating intramural programs so that the girls could take a leadership role in the community. Worked with the ASAA, to host Provincial Championships in Cross County, Volleyball, Basketball, Gymnastic and Track and Field. The ASAA named a trophy after me , Betty Peters, my married name, as my Salcomp Cross Country won the Provincial 4 years in a row and my Gymnastic team win the first Provincial Gymnastics Championships. My life was directed by the Girls Guide Movement. Starting as a Brownie, then a Guide, Ranger and then leadership roles as Captain and Commissioners. "To help other people at all times and do a good deed every day". Good way to live. I was on the first staff of the new outdoor swimming pool and as a result was a Qualified Swimming Instructor and Lifeguard. Became an examiner for Royals Life Saving and Red Cross. This took me to working at YMCA Church Camps and Red Deer outdoor pool. I came back to manage the Pool for two years. The second phase of my life was starting a Camera shop and Photo studio business. This led me to getting my Craftsman and Master Degree in Professional Photography. Resulting in travelling all over the USA for conferences and training sessions in Indiana, Hawaii, San Barbara and Las Vegas. National competitions were held, I was very fortunate to win several competitions with my work. My third phase was a move to Salt Spring Island BC. Here I decided to play carpenter and built my own house. I got involved with Target sports and Archery. I worked with the Coaching Association of Canada in Gymnastic and Track and Field as a Judge, the Target Sports and Archery as a Level Three Coach and Course conductor. I entered the National Rifle and Archery Competition managing to set a few records. Also became a Senior and entered the BC Senior games in Rifle, Handgun, Archery and Track Field. I chaired the North American Ingenious Games in Victoria BC in the Target Sports and was judging at the World Archery Championships. The Commonwealth Games in Victoria had me working with the Gymnastic and Target Sports. In between all my adventures I was able to travel to Europe several times. Took in Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia. In a move back to Wetaskiwin I became interested in my family history. This has resulted in 6 trips to Ontario and 7 trips to Salt Lake for research, as well as two to Ireland. Attending Genealogy Conferences and sessions. I am a descendant Of John Helmer _ ' The man in the movie -"Drums Along The Mohawk" is my Great Great Great Grandfather and as result was able to prove my "United Empire Loyalist" connection. The poem "In Flanders Fields" was written for my cousin Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. The other side of the family - my Grandfather Charles Scharff was a High Wire Trapeze artist in the circus. I continued to play Fastball into my 60's, climbed a few mountains, did a bit of Scuba diving, Skiing, and Roller Skating where I met my husband Stan Peters, and between my canoes on the rivers and lakes, I changed to a sailboat when I went to BC. One of my most remembered times was a masters course I took from Concordia University in Montreal. It took myself and 52 others on a trip to Sweden, Denmark and Germany to study all the Olympic sites, school sport programs, and sport club activities. Before leaving Montreal only three of us did not get food poisoning. Locked in a airport hanger for 12 hours watching people go into convulsions and carried off one by one to the hospital has never left me. Became a Rebecca (IOOF) in and 1958 thus 65 yrs member and joined the Legion in 2005. |
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After graduating from W.H.S in 1958 I worked at a couple of restaurants in Wetaskiwin that summer and fall. I married Alex Vass on Nov. 27, 1958 and we lived at Alder Flats, AB until his cat skinning job took him away from that area. We bought a small trailer and moved wherever the job was, from Fort St. John, BC, High Level, AB in the north to Cochrane in the south and many places in between. Alex spent five years in the oil patch and during this time I worked part time in the company cookhouse and one winter I cooked for a drilling rig crew working at our Fox Creek camp. Alex left the oil patch in 1863 and we moved to Wetaskiwin for two years. Our daughter Gayle was born there in 1964. Our son Alec had been born in Wetaskiwin in 1960. In 1965 I worked several months at a downtown bakery until we moved to Rimbey late that year. I’d kept track of all our moves over the years and that was move #58. After two years there, and a shortage of work we moved to Provost, bought a little house, and both of us went to work. I worked at the hospital laundry department for 21 years while Alex worked operating a road grader for the M.D. of Provost until retirement. Over the years we did lots of camping and fishing, and visiting family and friends. I enjoyed the Farmer’s Markets and spent several years as Market Manager as well as being a vendor. I now spend my time crocheting, visiting, and doing lots of crafts and jig saw puzzles. I have two grandchildren and two great granddaughters so I try to visit them often. Alex passed away April 5, 2023 but I still live in our home with daughter Gayle nearby. After three years of Covid restrictions I am ready to attend the W.C.H.S. reunion and hopefully see lots of former students who are now seniors and some of us with walkers, canes or wheelchairs. See you in August. |
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Wetaskiwin Composite High School 2017 & 2023 Reunions © 2023 All Rights Reserved |
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Allan
Robert Ewart
Betty
Scharff 
Priscilla
(Swanson) Vass