Former Park Street Collegiate Institute (PSCI) students and faculty will be reunited in Orillia this weekend.
Despite the school being permanently closed for the past 10 years, former teacher John Winchester says the PSCI spirit is still alive. About 300 former alumni will be attending Saturday night’s dance at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
“We are hoping to reconnect with a lot of people,” Winchester said. “Some we haven’t seen since the school closed; some of them haven’t been back here since the big 50th anniversary in 2011.”
The PSCI 60+1 reunion event kicks off Friday with a restaurant tour at 6 p.m.
Winchester says the reunion is an important opportunity for alumni to reflect.
“High school, for some people, is where they met their significant other,” he said. “It might have been the last time where some people were in their hometown before moving off to college, university or work.”
Coming out of two isolated years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Winchester says the reunion is an opportunity to celebrate milestones and appreciate old friendships.
“I spent 26 of my 30 years teaching under that roof,” he said. “It’s important for me to remind myself about how special a time that was.”
Some alumni are coming to Orillia this weekend from as far away as Australia, Winchester says. Mid-’70s grad Mike McMullen will be the host of Saturday night’s event, and he is flying in from Winnipeg to do so.
With the reunion, the Orillia Scottish Festival and the Ramara Classic Car Show all taking place this weekend, Winchester says local businesses might receive a boost.
“After two years of being shut down, those people will certainly appreciate the business,” he said. “After we’ve covered all our costs, we are going to make a donation to a few local charities.”
Alumni looking to register for the event can do so here.