Vegreville
MEMOIRS
Class of
1965/66
DARLENE (ANDRUCHOW) YAKIMETZ
2006
Work
1969-graduated from UofA school of nursing and worked on orthopedics and general surgery at the Misericordia hospital for three years.
1974-worked at the UAH doing research project with the anaesthetists in the OR.
1975-bought land (including my parent’s near Lavoy which we currently own) and started farming with Steve’s brother and sister (Emil and MaryAnn).
1976-worked part time nights on Emergency, Surgery and Maternity at Vegreville hospital.
1981 -worked in Home Care at Vegreville Health Unit.
1987-began work in Home Care in Sherwood Parkand continue to work there now (we moved there due our eldest son’s ill health but kept on farming).
1999-started a Saskatoon orchard at our farm and in 2000 spent the summer on our hands and knees weeding.
Family
After a whirlwind romance that began in 7th grade, Steve Yakimetz and I married in 1969. He was at the UofA and graduated with his business and commerce degree in 1972.
We had three sons. Doug, 33, has had many challenges in life due to a brain tumor; operated on in 1985 and leaving him in a coma for 6 months. He is our hero for he had to learn to crawl, walk, talk etc and with great determination accomplished all. He now lives in a group home in Sherwood Park and works part time at Albert’s Restaurant and also at the Ramada Inn. He has taught us patience, humility and a great respect for all physically and mentally challenged people. Brett, 31,like Steve, has his business degree. He is our entrepreneur having just bought into two John Deere dealerships, one in FortSaskatchewan and one in Vegreville. Adam, 27,has his Agriculture degree and works in research for Pioneer Hi-Bred. If we need something fixed we call on Adam.
Steve and I still work full time and run our orchard in the summer. Transition to working only in the orchard is just around the corner, we hope. I look forward to seeing you at the reunion or reading your biographies.
ERNIE AUCH
2006
Hello all. I am just signing in from the "MISSING CLASSMATES" portion of the invitation and am about to attend my 'first' reunion.
1966-after leaving high school, moved to Edmonton and worked for Fibreglass Canada while processing my application for theRCMP.
1967-(Sept 07) two days after my nineteenth birthday, I traveled via train to Depot Division in Regina to start my training. The RCMP had just stopped horse training and I became a member of the first 16 numbered troop. Prior to that, all troops were lettered.
1967-(Dec 10) was transferred from Depot Division to MynarskiPark (just outside of Red Deer) to complete my training.
1968 -(Mar 19)completed recruit training and was posted to Revelstoke Detachment ("E" Division - British Columbia).
1968 -(Oct 17) was transferred to Williams Lake Detachment on general duties (uniformed member).
1969 -(Nov 03) was transferred to 100 Mile House Detachment on general duties.
1971 -(Sep 13) was transferred to Salmon Arm Detachment on general duties.
1974 -(Jul 31) was transferred to Kamloops Sub/Division G.I.S. (General Investigation Section or detective - plain clothes).
1975 -(Apr 25) was transferred to YellowknifeN.W.T. ('G' Division) on general duties.
1975 -(May 03) wastransferred to Fort Simpson, N.W.T. on general duties.
1975 -(Jun 03) was transferred back to Yellowknife, N.W.T. on general duties.
1975 -(Dec 20) was transferred to Snowdrift, N.W.T. on general duties.
1976 -(Jan 08) was transferred to Yellowknife, N.W.T.on general duties.
1976 -(Jun 25) was transferred Cambridge Bay, N.W.T. i/c Detachment.
1976 -(Oct 01) was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
1977 -(Jul 09) married Sheila BARTMAN in Salmon Arm, B.C. (her hometown).
1979-(Jul 04) was transferred to Waskesiu Lake, Sask ('F' Division) i/c Detachment.
1979 -(Oct 16) our son Bradley Michael was born in Prince AlbertSask.
1980 -(Feb) purchased a home in Prince Albert, Sask.
1980 -(Dec 04) left the RCMP, moved to Prince Albert, Sask and shortly after, I left for FortSt. John, B.C. to manage the Fort Hotel which was owned and operated by Mr. Sam Yurkiw from Yellowknife, NWT.
1981 -(May 23) our daughter Kelleigh Brianne was born in Prince Alberta, Sask.
1982 -(Aug) rented a semi-trailer and moved my family to Ft.St. John, B.C. where we rented accommodation. Rented our home in Prince Albert, Sask.
1983 -(May) moved from Ft.St. John to Victoria, B.C. where I managed the Esquimalt Inn which was also owned by Sam Yurkiw.
1983 -(Jun) sold our home in Prince Albert and purchased a home in the Royal Oak area of Saanich (suburb of Victoria).
1984 -(Aug 22) our daughter Lauren Michelle was born in Victoria, B.C.
1986 -applied for re-enlistment to the RCMP however was unsuccessful due to hearing loss which was the result of my previous stint with the Force. I had left the hotel business at this time and was temporarily driving cab for Bluebird Cabs in
Victoria.Over the course of the next eight years, I had purchased shares in Bluebird Cabs Ltd.and at one point, owned four taxis.
1994 -(Aug) began selling my shares in Bluebird Cabs Ltd., once again left my family behind and relocated to Whitecourt, AB where I became partners with my Uncle and started Stanorr Sand & Gravel.
1995 -(Jun) purchased a residence in Whitecourt and moved the rest of the family to Whitecourt in July.
1997 -sold our residence in Victoria, BC after two years of renting and purchased a lot in Whitecourt where we built our first house.
2001 -(May) experienced difficulty with partnership in Stanorr Sand & Gravel subsequently left the company and worked with Inland Concrete.
2002 -(Jan) Went to work for Pointts as a court agent representing people in court over traffic matters. Stayed with my brother in Edmonton during the week and commuted to Whitecourt every weekend.
2004 -(Aug) Purchased a residence in Edmonton after selling our home in Whitecourt.
2004 -(Sep) Left Pointts and began working for myself in the Provincial Court system as a 'court agent'.
Present - All our children have graduated from high school. Brad is presently employed with Hydro-Dig out of Leduc where he lives. He is single but is presently dating a nice young lady who also lives in Leduc. Kelleigh presently works for FlintCanada in their drafting department located in Sherwood Park. She is single and lives by herself. Our daughter, Lauren, presently works for Don Cherry's Restaurant and has been taking home decorating courses at the U of A. She is also single and presently lives with my wife and myself.
I am anxious to meet you along with the rest of the classmates whom I haven't seen since high school with the exception of Bill Pichach and Adeline Callan (Pankiw). Take care and will see you at the reunion.
Regards, Ernie & Sheila
ALVIN BORTNICK
2006
Following graduation in 1966 from the Vegreville Peter Svarich High School, I moved on to Edmonton to pursue an Engineering Degree at the University of Alberta. For the next four years, the focus was on my studies and in May 1970 the payoff came with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (WD). During the summers, I worked at Chemcell, located east of Beverly. It's nice to reminisce that room and board during school was only $50 per month, all-inclusive. And it was enjoyment to look forward to every Friday for that trip back home to Lavoy and Vegreville, call it homesickness. Since I had no car or car privileges, transportation was to get on the ETS with my suitcase and head to the downtown bus depot or train station.
After graduating in 1970, I took employment with Stelco (the Steel Company of Canada) in Edmonton working in the engineering department. It was in this year that I met my wife-to-be, Yvette, at a birthday party. In the early 70s, I was fortunate to be part of a team that headed up the $25 million expansion of the steel making facilities in east Edmonton. The opportunity for engineering learning was enormous.
Yvette and I were married on May 5, 1973 and settled down in south Edmonton and shortly after, purchased our own home in Sherwood Park. The desire for a country lifestyle was in our system and so we acquired some vacant land several miles east of Sherwood Park for future consideration.
Yvette and I had four children from 1977 to 1981, two boys (Michael and Steven) and two girls (Audrey and Barbara). All four attended school in Sherwood Park, pursued post secondary education in Edmonton, and are now married (or engaged to be married) and living in their own homes in the Edmonton area. During this time, my career advanced to the position Manager, Engineering and I started to take on increasing roles in Environmental Engineering.
With the Sherwood Park bungalow now filled with the family of six, we decided to build a home on the acreage. First came the detached garage in 1984, which would be the construction base for the home in 1985. All vacation and spare time in 1985 was used to construct the home and in April 1986 we had new quarters.
While raising our family, I continued to participate in hobbies including woodworking, hiking, camping, ice-skating, and downhill skiing. We enjoyed family trips to the mountains for hiking/camping vacations in the summer and skiing vacations in the winter. I committed nearly 8 years to Boys Scouts and travelled with the groups to numerous provincial and Canadian Jamborees.
In 1987, Stelco’s Edmonton steel plant received a direct hit from the large tornado and sustained millions $ of damage. We recruited an engineering and construction team from within the Stelco organizations and set out to repair the facilities. Within about 8 weeks, we were back into operation, although with some restrictions. In the years that followed, my engineering work has continued to evolve into environmental engineering. Since the mid 90s, I have held the position Manager, Environment and Major Projects. In 2006, Stelco sold our operations, now called AltaSteel Ltd., to the Scaw Metals Group, South Africa.
After a career of 36 years with Stelco (and AltaSteel), I have given notice to retire at the end of March 2007. Yette and I now enjoy spending more time with the family (though no grandchildren yet) and helping out with their various projects including buying homes, fencing, landscaping and so forth.
I look forward to the upcoming reunion to re-establish old friendships and some camaraderie on the golf course.
Alvin
EMERY CHEROT
2006
Elaine (Malarski) and I will celebrate our 36th Anniversary in September. We have two children: Aaron (29) and Megan (26). Neither are married yet. We have lived in Calgary since 1973.
After graduating from U of A in 1970, I worked in the oilpatch for Baroid as a mud engineer, then hired on with Atlantic Richfield which was later purchased by Petro-Canada. I retired in 2004 after 31 years with Petro-Canada. While working, I traveled north of the Arctic Circle, to northern B.C., the Middle East and Spain. Our vacation travels have taken us to the Canadian east and west coasts, a couple of USA tours, Panama Canal cruise, Spain, Ireland, Playa del Carmen, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Belize.
I sing with a men’s barbershop chorus, golf poorly, curl pretty well, can snorkel for hours, love to prune trees, play bridge when I can, still play the guitar and enjoy wine, beer and a rusty nail. I cheer for the Stampeders, the Flames, the Esks and the Oilers (more TV-time that way). I hope to travel more and to read half the books we have.
2011 addition
We’ll celebrate 41 years together in September. No grand-children. Megan (the younger) is married and they have 2 large dogs, 2 cats, some fish, a turtle and who knows what else. Aaron (the older) is single and has 2 cats. So Elaine and I have about 8 grand-pets which we spoil rotten.
Aaron plays bass guitar and sings harmony in 2 rock bands. Megan sings in a 10-person a cappella group that does 1 or 2 gigs every year.
Elaine’s golfing is getting better; mine is not. Gardening takes up way too much time, although I can prune plants with the best of them.
In the last 5 years, Elaine and I have travelled to New Zealand & the Cook Islands, Quebec Province, Las Vegas, Costa Rica, and most recently Italy and wine-tasting in the Napa Valley.
I am still deeply involved in a men’s barbershop chorus, having been the Chorus President for the last 4 years. As a chorus member, I have taken 3 trips to Harmony University in St. Joseph, Missouri. The University is taken over by barbershoppers who provide hundreds of courses to music educators, youth groups and mostly barbershoppers from around the world.
See Elaine’s bio for an accurate view of what we have up to. (damn…I ended the sentence with a preposition. Ramona wouldn’t like that)
ANN CURRY
2006
Worked 1969-71 in Malaysia as a CUSO volunteer, 1972-1989 as a librarian in Calgary and Edmonton. Since 1991 have been a professor at the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at UBC. I've worked as a librarian or taught university classes in England, Australia, Indonesia, and various parts of the U.S., most recently in Hawaii. Married in 1976, divorced in 1989. Since 1997, have been with partner Gary Albach and two stepdaughters (now 17 and 21).
JOSEPHINE (DOWHEY) WERENKA
2006
- Born May 20, 1947 at the OldVegrevilleHospital.
- Raised by her Grandparents Jacob and Marie Dowhey.
- Attended school in Vegreville from Grade One through 12, graduating in May, 1966: loved phys-ed and recess!
- Employed at AGT as a telephone operator
- Married November 26, 1966 to Dennis Werenka…40 years of marriage this November!
- Raised two children, Shelley Marie, 38 and Nigel Patrick, 33. Shelley is married and lives in Edmonton with her family of two boys and Roger Hankey. Nigel is married, as of July of this year, to Dana Rode, just starting their life together. Shelley is an accountant/office controller. Nigel is on staff with EnCana in Calgary as a field supervisor.
- Worked at various positions during my 40 years…engraver, bookkeeper, reconciliation clerk at WCB, bank teller, owner/operator of two floral retail outlets.
- Numerous moves due to Dennis changing his position from millwright to the oil industry.
- Engaged in career assessment and began working as a youth counselor at Whitespruce Youth Treatment Centre in Yorkton, SK.
- Began university classes at University of Regina, Faculty of Social Work and completed a Bachelor of Social Work Degree. Now that would be at age 42!!!
- Employed at the Yorkton Mental Centre working with adult outpatient clients.
- Worked for Children’s Services, conducting investigations and providing support for foster children at Edson, AB.
- Relocated to Edmonton and worked for the Mental Health Crisis Team for the Alberta Mental Health Board/The Support Network.
- Moved on to work for the Catholic School Board at St. Matthew School – Ukrainian Bi-Lingual School as Family School Liaison Counselor…became one of the few staff cuts in education and moved to Drayton Valley, AB.
- Worked as a Children’s Mental Health Therapist for the David Thompson Health Region providing services to children and families in our area.
- Dennis is employed with EnCana as a consultant and works away in various different locations in Alberta (High Level, Wabasca, ColdLake). We love the styles of our work and find that our hearts grow fonder with the distance between us. Certainly, this life style is not for everyone.
And you can not forget the sport in this girl! From playing basketball, volleyball, track and field at PSHS, to playing Division One fastball in Edmonton, to Provincial Champs in Fastball Intermediate A in Kindersley, SK to biking and hiking on mountains, to jumping on a Suzuki 600 Savage in her leathers! Not the girl you used to know back then, huh? Love to garden and fuss with the flowers. Shopping with my daughter is a huge hit as well. Love watching NHL hockey…how about those OILERS! And I love to watch the NBA especially our Canadian super hero…Steve Nash. I read…love a good forensic thriller. And that is our JOSEPHINE WERENKA IN 2006!
2011 addition
I opened my practise as a Clinical Socialworker/ Counsellor/ Mediator out here at Drayton Valley. We have a lot of people who work in the oilfield industry, lumber industry, and rural farming and of course the town folk who do not wish to travel to the big city of Edmonton for their counselling issues. As well I provided child/adolescent counselling services with access to a Psychiatrist out of Red Deer which again eliminated the travel and politics of the big city. I operated the business for two years on coming out of my initial retirement two years ago. I also wrote a program for children/ adolescents who were exposed to family violence; this program is now being used in our community. So the long and short of it is on operating this for two years I have made the decision that I do not want to work harder... just smarter, so we (hubby and I) decided retirement fit the bill much better.
We also became Grandparents; our son Nigel and Dana have Ayslynn Paige who is 3 years old and just a sweetie, so we want to spend time with them on the party barge at Pigeon Lake as much as we can. We also like to go river boating.Icannot golf as I broke my arm and wrist last year so my gold game is crappy this year... more rehab!!! it is a real process this aging and I am still learning how to slow it down somewhat... lots of good reading in the winter months... I tackled Hitler's biography this was a huge read!!! but interesting.
Looking forward to the weekend!!!
DEANNA (DRYSDALE) CORRIGAN
2006
After high school, I attended the U of A and got my B Ed Degree. While at university, I met Frank, and on May3,1969, we were married in Vegreville. Following this momentous occasion, I started teaching for Edtn Public, and stayed in this system for almost five years. In the meantime, Frank was hired by the County of Strathcona, so we moved to Sherwood Park. I was also employed by the County of Strathcona (to become Elk Island Schools) later on, after having stayed home with our children for some time. I spent twenty years in education, having taught almost every grade from one through twelve. Frank spent a little longer in his career, having been in counselling and in administration most of the time.