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I feel it is a privilege for me on behalf of the graduating class of 1962 to say good-bye to the Collingwood Collegiate and to all its associations which have come to mean so much over the past few years.
Perhaps it is rather symbolic that our official farewell should take place in this auditorium, for it was here that we had our first glimpse of life at high school. That day marked the beginning of a period of our lives which will be remembered with deep and lasting pleasure.
Think back with me on some of the events which have taken place during our stay at this school. We think of the Tudhope Championship in 1960, the Senior Football team of 1961, the Gleaner of 1961 and '62, the winning of the COSSA Girls' basketball championship 1961, the departure of Mr. Peat and the coming of our present Principal, the Public Speaking Competition, and the numerous club activities. Every member of the graduating class remembers his part in the Variety Night--whether great or small--colourful costumes, nervous faces, and the thrill of seeing friends on stage. Dances, too, were a part of life at school, from the beatnik bop to the spring formals.
Nevertheless we realize tonight that these were only the by-products of something much more a part of the real life we knew; sports and dances were only once-a-week activities, but the spirit of fellowship found in the halls and classrooms was with us everyday. There is a moral as well as an intellectual value in our education. Important as the study of Latin or the solving of complex equations may be, it is never- theless true that tolerance, co-operation and appreciation of others' ideas and accomplishments are basic qualities of a liberal education. We graduates have been exposed to these influences, and if we have understood them then our contributions to society will be great and sincere.
Some of you now say, "Well, I have spent five years at CDCI. What have I to show for it?" For those who leave here with nothing more than a diploma, I would say very little. One of our teachers expressed it most aptly when he said that benefits derived are equated to contributions made. This statt:Jment applies to high school, but we shall find it more true in years to come. During our stay at school, there were many opportunities to develop personal qualities like responsibility, leadership, integrity, and initiative through participation in the various organizations such as the ISCF, Current Events Club, Glee Club, and, of course, the cadet corps. These values are now ours and will remain with us through years to come.
But my Valedictory would not be complete without some mention of the future plans of this year's graduating class. Some have left to enter the business world; others have decided to search for high edu- cation in the Universities and Colleges. Many wish to remain in Canada to serve their native land; others wish to travel to various parts of the globe. But wherever we go, we shall remember tonight and what it represents.
In closing I should like to express a two-fold thanks for the graduates. First, we wish to thank our parents, relatives, and friends for their love, tolerance, and sincere concern in our activities at Collingwood Collegiate, and secondly we wish to thank the teachers who have given these years of their lives in order to better ours. Wherever we go, we .,;hall remember all of you and thank you many times as we carry with us the challenge of the motto of this school--SAPERE AUDE (Dare to be wise).
Valedictory 1962·
Lindsay Fawcett