If the walls of Terry Fox Secondary School could talk…
Friday, Nov. 15, staff, students and parents — past and present — will celebrate the Port Coquitlam high school’s 25th anniversary by sharing some of the stories that occurred within those walls over the quarter century since it moved into its new digs on Riverwood Gate.
Counsellor and longtime basketball coach Rich Chambers, whose five decades as an educator date back to when TFSS was still known as Port Coquitlam Senior Secondary School, still remembers making the trek to the muddy property on the city’s still largely undeveloped northeast side with former principal Dave Matheson for a ceremonial sod turning to begin construction of the new facility.
“The only thing nearby was a McDonald’s, all by itself,” Chambers said. “It’s like they knew something.”
Friday’s celebration, that begins at 5 p.m. and is open to all, includes a mingler in the school’s commons area, speeches by PoCo Mayor Brad West, former and current staff, alumni and a student. Teachers who’ve passed away since their time at Terry Fox will also be honoured.
Following a cake cutting at 6:30 p.m., students will model grad dresses through the years and alumni from the Ravens boys and girls basketball teams will tip off against this year’s senior sides. There will also be tours through the building to take visitors down memory lane.
Chambers said the sense of community shared by anyone who attended and worked at Terry Fox was baked in when the school changed its name in 1986 to honour the Port Coquitlam hero who embarked upon an epic quest to run daily marathons across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
He said having Fox’s name attached to the school brought an instant spirit and sense of pride.
“Everyone knows Terry Fox,” said Chambers, adding the ongoing involvement in the school community by members of the Fox family has bolstered that through the years.
The architecture of the building also helps.
Where the old school was all long parallel and intersecting locker-lined halls, the current structure flows from the expansive, two-storey commons area and adjacent gymnasium.
The constant buzz of activity, trill of whistles and thrum of bouncing balls creates an instant sense that interesting and exciting things are transpiring within the school’s walls from the moment it opens to the community at 5:30 a.m. until the doors are locked for the night at 11 p.m., said Chambers.
“It’s a special place.”
Spearheaded by organizers Frances D’Alfonso, Trista Jones and Rosie Dhesi along with a cast of supporters, the celebration has been in the works for more than a month, Chambers said it will be fun to see some old faces and recall fond memories of school events like its spirit assemblies, sports conquests and setbacks, spring musicals, dances and the winter ball.
“These are the events that bring the school together,” he said.
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