Ă©cole Sir George Simpson students will celebrate a big birthday Tuesday as the junior high school turns 50 years old.
Tuesday, June 21, which happens to be the last day of school before exams, was chosen as a day of celebration in part because it is close to the day when the former Alberta treasurer A.O. Aalberg initiated the school’s construction on June 17, 1961. June 21 is also Aboriginal Day in St. Albert.
“A very interesting feature of our school is the fact that we welcome a fairly high number of MĂ©tis and aboriginal students,” said principal Pierre Rousseau.
A little less than 10 per cent of the school’s population is aboriginal or MĂ©tis and the focus throughout the year for all students has been the celebration of St. Albert’s 150th anniversary and honouring the MĂ©tis roots.
“One very important goal of our 50th anniversary celebration is to restore a sense of pride and also to lead the entire school population to a greater understanding of the MĂ©tis contribution to our community and to our school,” Rousseau explained.
The school was named after the colourful Sir George Simpson, who took over as governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1826 and continued in that position for almost 40 years.
“Our school name, Sir George Simpson, certainly evokes a very important character in Alberta’s history but it also reminds us about all the voyageurs and the MĂ©tis who worked with him. Without their contribution, Sir George Simpson and the Hudson’s Bay Company would never have succeeded to the extent that we know. It is therefore in the honour of the MĂ©tis founders of St. Albert that we wish to celebrate Canada in a very special way,” Rousseau said.
The school moniker also continued a trend at the time to name structures after historical figures. The St. Albert Protestant School division’s first school was named for explorer Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Soon after Sir George Simpson was built, Paul Kane was constructed and named after the painter who visited Fort Edmonton in 1848.
In anticipation of the celebration for the school’s 50th anniversary, students raised $1,500 to purchase a sculpture of a 48-inch-tall bear, which was carved by Quebec artist Denis DubĂ©. The sculpture will be unveiled at the celebration on Tuesday.
“This sculpture has been named Bear Spirit. It will be dedicated to all students, past and present, who have exemplified our school virtues: courage, determination, respect of self, respect of others, enthusiasm and sharing,” Rousseau said.
The 50th anniversary celebration begins in the morning with students taking part in several artistic and musical activities including entertainment by traditional drummers, the Doll Sisters and Alex Mahé.
At 1:30 p.m. a more formal celebration will include special guests including former principals and students and performances by former students Scottish dancer Maggie Nelson, keyboard musician Kyle Cusiac, guitar by Ben Harbak and drums by Devon Wolfe.
All current and former Sir George Simpson staff and students are invited to come to the school Tuesday to join in the celebrations, which, weather permitting, will be held outdoors on the hill behind the school.
