Moosomin School Reunion this weekend
July 6, 2017, 1:27 pm
Kara Kinna
Organizers are excited about the Moosomin Reunion and Homecoming this Thursday to Sunday.
A ton of planning has gone into the event, and over 340 people have registered, with more expected to register this week as the event nears.
Marg Tomlinson, one of the co-chairs of the reunion committee, says everyone should come take part in the celebration.
“This is not just a school reunion, this is a community-wide homecoming 150 celebration,” she says. “Please come out and see your old friends and neighbors that are coming back for it. It’s going to be an awesome weekend.
“Everyone is welcome. New people in town are welcome. People that moved here and were part of the community for years and are gone because their job transferred them or whatever.
“We want people to come out and enjoy the weekend and all the fun things that are going to go on.”
Tomlinson says a number of individual class reunions are being held that weekend, including reunions for students of the rural Orangeville and Ivanhoe schools. Tomlinson’s own class is having a 50-year reunion with at least 35 people attending.
Individual classes are also being encouraged to enter the parade the Saturday of that weekend.
“Come and enjoy it, come and see your old friends and neighbors, because I know what a thrill it’s been for me to just talk to them on the phone. I can’t wait to put my arms around them and welcome them back to Moosomin.
“You don’t know what you’re going to miss if you don’t come. You will miss seeing lots of people and enjoying the community.
“A lot of people are very interested in seeing the town again and seeing the changes.
“I think people are excited about it.”
The reunion starts this Thursday, July 6. Registration is from 6-9 pm that night at the Conexus Convention Centre.
The event kicks off with the grand opening of the Tim Hortons Eventplex at Bradley Park on the Thursday night from 5-11 pm.
On Friday, registration will be from 10 am to 9 pm at the Convention Centre.
There will be a homecoming dance and social evening at the Moosomin Convention Centre on Friday evening at 8 pm.
On Saturday registration runs from 11 am to 2 pm at the Convention Centre.
Saturday is a busy day.
There will be a pancake breakfast from 7-9 am at the fire hall, a parade at 10 am, a pingpong ball drop at 11:30 am in the parking lot behind the Moosomin Family Practice Centre, and a multi-cultural luncheon at the Moosomin Armoury Hall from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.
The official reunion ceremonies are at McNaughton High School at 3 pm that day. The ceremonies will include speeches by former notable Moosomin residents, and by visiting dignitaries, including Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield. There will also be entertainment, and the ceremonies will wrap up with class photos at the school.
On Saturday night there will be a ham supper hosted by Bethel United Church from 5-7 pm at the Convention Centre followed by a homecoming dance at the Moosomin Communiplex starting at 8 pm. The Back 40 Drifters, a local band, will perform at the dance.
The Moosomin rodeo runs all weekend long in conjunction with the reunion and reunion visitors are encouraged to take in rodeo events as well on the weekend.
The weekend will wrap up with a non-denominational cowboy church service at the rodeo grounds on Sunday at 10:30 am. The service will be moved to the Legion hall if it’s raining.
People can register in advance for the reunion by picking up a registration form at Kassie’s Jewelry in Moosomin, going online at www.world-spectator.com/canada-150 or by searching for Moosomin School Reunion and Homecoming on Facebook. They can also register at the event.
