When St. Anselm Catholic School opened its doors in September 1939, six-year-old Pat Caffery was there to start grade 1.
When St. Anselm marked its 75th anniversary late this past September, Caffery, now Pat Poole, was back to join in the celebrations, along with two others – Shirley Rouleaux and Joan (Sullivan) Crothers, who also attended in that first year the school was open.
“The original school building – now long gone – was just two rooms located where the playground is now,” recalls Poole. “Father Caulfield was the original pastor sent to build the first church and school. He was kind of a gruff old man, but he had his soft side – he remembered every student by name. I was at St. Anselm’s for eight years and made a lot of friends.”
“Almost 1,000 people attended,” the weekend festivities said school principal Richard Walo.
The special anniversary mass presided over by Monsignor Marco Laurencic, pastor of St. Anselm’s Catholic Church, on Friday, Sept. 26 was the highlight of the celebrations, said Walo. Poole and Rouleaux presented the offeratory gifts.
Walo hosted an open house and barbecue the following day.
This Nov, 11, Remembrance Day, there will be a special service for 158 Canadian military killed in Afghanistan, starting 10 a.m. and led by new grade 6/7 teacher David Nespolo, a member of the Governor-General’s Horse Guards. It will include a Wall of Remembrance and a procession through the neighbourhood around the school. Everyone is invited.