It was a get-together like no other. Hundreds of former high school students [and a handful of teachers] turned out for a high school reunion in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada on Tuesday evening, 30 June 2015.
The event was billed as “Brian’s Dream,” in memory of the late Brian [‘Fish’] MacNeish of Halifax, Nova Scotia. In February 2014, the former Campbellton High student died from a stroke on his 64th birthday. Two years earlier, Brian had organized a gathering of former high school students from Campbellton’s three high schools. The man who was known for putting others ahead of himself rented a hall and ordered in finger food — all on his own dime.
In a world that has in some ways gone ‘me,’ Brian MacNeish stayed ‘us.’ He wasn’t here to take, he was here to give.
Gotta say, I was impressed with how things went that night. Here’s my photo essay, with a few comments, a short video and three Beach Boys’ songs and an oldie by the We Five thrown in …
Former student Penny Adams and former Campbellton High teacher Dan MacDonald. Penny was one of the organizers of Brian’s Dream.
Song #1 … ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ by the Beach Boys … [1964]
To keep the iTunes police happy, all the songs on this post are available on iTunes.
For the original of this story, released in February 2015, stay on this blog and go to ‘Fish and a Dozen Roses.’
I graduated from Campbellton High back in 1967 — Canada’s Centennial Year — and I turned up for the June 2015 event. It was my very first school reunion … and gotta say, I was impressed. A lot of work went into this, and the result was that a room at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre was packed with some very satisfied people.
I arrived with a CHS yearbook from ’67, an iPhone camera, a few notes for a short speech … and hundreds of memories that ran through my mind like static on an old radio. After just a few minutes in the room, I wasn’t sure what year it was: My brain said it was 2015, my heart 1967.
In the audience of 250 was Shirley MacNeish, widow of Brian MacNeish [second from left]. Shirley arrived with Brian’s sister, Cheryl White, daughter Avery and Brian’s cousin, Syd Demeau.
Representing ‘Fish’
Note the signatures in the 1967 CHS yearbook from Shirley and Avery MacNeish.
I spent the evening checking out name tags, chatting it up with folk, collecting autographs and snapping photos. Found myself torn from being a participant in one cool event to a reporter covering it.
The crowd impressed the hell out of me. Half a century ago, they left as students … but returned as judges, lawyers, nurses, teachers, media professionals, supervisors, you name it. And while some returned with luggage, no one had any baggage … not a complaint from anyone as to how life had treated them. It was all very positive and upbeat. They were high, but not on booze or dope. This was pure joy. Magic. Sorry for getting touchy-feely on you, but that’s the way it was …
Here’s a short video clip of the noisy scene that evening. Recognize anyone?
Marilyn Nichol and Denise Gaudet
![Peggy Hamilton and Lynn Taylor [Photo by Rose Beek]](http://byronchristopher.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/peggy-hamilton-and-lynn-taylor-rose-beek-photo.png?w=450&h=368)
Peggy Hamilton and Lynn Taylor [Photo by Rose Beek]
![Mike and Don Dan [whose father Leonard ran a grocery store on Christopher Avenue]. Mike wore two hats that evening: former student and former teacher. It was Mike who introduced operettas to Campbellton High in the mid-1960s.](http://byronchristopher.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/img_0856.jpg?w=450&h=338)
Happy Days: Brothers Mike and Don Day [whose father Leonard Day ran a small grocery store on Christopher Avenue]. Mike wore two hats that evening: former student and former teacher at CHS. Mike introduced operettas to Campbellton High in the mid-1960s.
Carol [McCully] Robertson, Rose Beek, Ann [Savoie] Smith and Sandra [Doucet] Hachey
Rose Beek [with camera] seizes the moment
![Shane and Monique Barton [Photo by Rose Beek]](http://byronchristopher.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/shane-and-monique-barton.png?w=450&h=334)
Shane and Monique [Essiembre] Barton [Photo by Rose Beek]
Craig Scott and Shane Barton
![The Woman in Red: Marian [Dawson] Humphrey. Marian followed in her mother's footsteps [Claire Dawson] and became a school teacher. She is married to David Humphrey; one of their two girls in a Rhodes scholar.](http://byronchristopher.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/img_0872-2.jpg?w=450&h=376)
The Woman in Red: Marian [Dawson] Humphrey. Marian followed in her mother’s footsteps [Claire Dawson] and became a school teacher. She’s married to David Humphrey; one of their two daughters is a Rhodes scholar.
Gary Hickey listens attentively to Jim Babcock …
Lynn Taylor
More Happy Days: Rachel [Caissy] Day, Jocelyn Day and Ken Day
Jim Babcock autographs my ’67 Yearbook. To his right is his wife Christine. To Christine’s right is Sharon [Nichol] Hickey.
A YEARBOOK AND AUTOGRAPHS
CHS Yearbook From 1967
“I’m still here” could be taken two ways: David is still in Campbellton — and he’s still kicking. He survived a battle with cancer.
Our final tune is a 1965 hit by the We Five … ‘You Were On My Mind.’ Dave used to spin this record a lot.
COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK …
‘When I stopped for gas this morning on Roseberry Street, it was the talk between workers and customers. Yesterday when I was at the Village, it was the upcoming news event. The [Organizing] Committee has much to be proud of. This memory is now imprinted forever, and it’s a great one.” [Rhea Gagnier Whalen]
“The sun is up and finally so am I! My memory bank is full of faces, facts and memories. Such an amazing job of keeping the event building over so many months. Arriving there was more electrifying than any Rolling Strones concert! God Bless my Campbellton!” [Fraser Farquhar]
“A time to remember, for sure. Amazing party. Kudos to the organizers and to Brian MacNeish who is probably still rocking!!!! Bless him.” [Pam Allain]
‘OMG! Wasn’t that a party?!?!?!?!” To use a phrase from the 60s, RIGHT ON!! [Penny Adams]
‘Great to see you Penny’ [Mike Day]
“Penny, it was so much fun! Seeing you again, it was like old times.” [Liliane Thomas]
“What a nice time warp!” [Katy Gillan]
‘You look great, Rose!! I was so happy to see you.” [Marlie [Dow] Wirtanen]
“Great party!” [Carmel Roy Dumon]
“Thanks everyone, organizers and attendees, for the great time last night. I’m not sure which amazes me more … how much I remembered about the good old days, or how much I had forgotten.” [John Hutchinson]
“It was a fantastic, fun event … from start to finish. Music was great and today I’m hoarse. Thanks to the Organizing Committee. Hope there’s another one sometime.” [Christy English]
“I guess I’m not the only one who ended up being hoarse. We certainly did lots of talking! What a night to remember! Hats off to the organizers.” [Ann and Bob Melville]
“I want to thank you all for all the work you did for the party. Thanks everbody for the great memories and for bringing up the past memories — the ones I remember and the ones I forgot. It was soon nice seeing you all again. What a gift to have been there.” [Audrey Brown]
“Last night was sheer happiness, loved seeing everyone, and was so happy to see Brian’s family there, friends we haven’t seen in so many years and new friendships forged. It was better than I could have possibly dreamed!! Thanks everyone for being you … you’re all incredible. Maritimers are special!!!” [Marlie [Dow] Wirtanen]
“Wonderful! Thanks to the organizers.” [Dan MacDonald]
“I am good vibrating from the night and expecting tremors for a while. Bravo organizers and special mention to Fred.” [Richard J. Blaquiere]
“What a crowd out last night. Had a fantastic time. Congrats to everyone that put it all together.” [Ken Day]
“Had a great time and sonic to see the expressions when people were looking at the name tags.” [Doris Pollock]
“It was a beautiful evening. It had love written all over it. So much work from this Committee.” [Fred Durette]
“Great time! Thanks to all who organized!” [Barbara Methot]
“That was such a terrific gathering and so much fun!!! Thank you to each one of the organizers for the wonderful job you did. So much effort you all invested in getting us all together!!! I’m thrilled to have attended our ‘do’ and had a great time.” [Maxine MacMillian]
“What a great party! Many thanks to those who made Brian’s Dream a reality.” [Ann and Bob Melville]
“Fun! Fun! Fun! So exciting to see people we haven’t seen in years!” [Bev [Conners] Mailloux]
THE MAGICIANS WHO MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE …
A six-member committee organized Brian’s Dream. They did a wonderful, wonderful job. Like Brian MacNeish, we owe them so much …
- Susan [Irvine] Caron
- Marlie [Dow] Wirtanen
- Ann [Butler] Power
- Doris [White] Pollock
- Susan [Wood] Porter
- Penny Adams
