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Homecoming organizers hope for 500 to mark 50th

John Curran
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 23, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Alice Michel didn't graduate from Sir John Franklin school, but her memories from there and Akaitcho Hall are no less dear to her today.

"Two of my best friends back then were Lillian and Susan Aglukark," said the Behchoko resident. "I remember we used to have big cleanup days at Akaitcho Hall. Everybody would be scrubbing and dusting away and Susan would sing to us while we worked.

"I have haven't seen either of them in years, I wonder how they are?"

Susan Aglukark of course went on to become a Juno award-winner. Her sister Lillian was one of the first made-in-Nunavut law grads, having participated in the Akitsiraq Law program.

This summer, Aug. 1 to 3, both Sir John and Akaitcho alumni like Michel and the Aglukark sisters, as well as former and present staff, teachers, parents and well-wishers are being called back to the Falcons' nest to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both institutions.

"I'll definitely go," said Michel. "I hope I can reconnect with a lot of old friends."

That's music to Cheryl Dies' ears. She is the chair of the Homecoming '08 organizing committee and she is urging anyone who knows they want to come to buy their tickets well in advance.

"We're hoping to have 500 people take part," she said, adding the early bird rate of $100 has been extended past July's long weekend.

"Northerners are often last minute ticket buyers, but it would be easier on the planners if people bought earlier this time."

Organizers are planning a full slate of activities for the golden anniversary celebration, but they are still going to leave folks with a little time to themselves.

"We want to leave some time open so that former classmates can reconnect," she said. "A homecoming Café will be set up in the gymnasium at Sir John ... we will have message boards set up to assist in making connections."

Some highlights of the plans already in place include the opening meet and greet at 7 p.m. on the Friday, a jam session featuring some of the school's musical talent from the past and present will go Saturday afternoon and a family picnic will be hosted on Sunday at Fred Henne Park - complete with water sports, campfires and plenty of great stories.

Some notable names already committed to attending, she said the musical Milligen family, with sax-playing James, drummer Scott and their sister Nancy all signed up.

"I think they'll be part of the jam session on Saturday," she said. "I also heard a rumour both Bendiksens - mom and dad, who taught at the school at one time - will be attending from Norway."

Their daughter Janette is another matter.

"I'm still working on her," said Dies, adding they attended Sir John for four years together and graduated in 1981. "We were close friends."

When she left school, Dies went to work as an administrative support worker with the RCMP.

"Today I work with Justice Canada, but I'm still in administration," she said, adding Yellowknife has really come of age since Sir John and Akaitcho Hall first opened.

"One of our board members was telling me, back in 1958 the city more resembled what life is like now for residents at Prelude Lake," she said. "Everyone had a pipe coming from their home that just dumped their grey water into the ditch.

"The streets weren't paved - they weren't even gravel - they were mainly all sand. One woman told me you didn't so much push a baby carriage, as you really just dragged it due to all of the sand."

The committee is also looking for volunteers on its website, www.sirjohn50.com, which also provides detailed ticket information.