News Detail
Continuity & Change Converge at Homecoming
Every November, ECS Old Girls “gather and bring" (to echo the school song) their memories and their desire to create new ones—to the annual Homecoming celebrations.
This year saw close to 100 former students of Miss Edgar’s and Miss Cramp’s School returning for a variety of events held from November 14th to 16th.
THURSDAY: FOUNDERS' DAY
Their journey got underway with the Founders’ Day ceremony, a tradition that began when ECS boarding students held a combined birthday party for Miss Edgar and Miss Cramp each November. Today, the mid-afternoon event begins with short speeches from those Grade 11 students who have been selected as the “Speakers of Excellence,” and ends with everyone enjoying birthday cake together.
Speakers of Excellence Grace Beattie, and Emilie Hess spoke eloquently and passionately about their subjects. Grace incorporated Winston Churchill’s quote “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life” into her argument that parents should be screened before having children. Emilie used Noam Chomsky’s famous edict that “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all” to critique the Quebec government’s controversial Charter of Values.
Speakers of Excellence Grace Beattie, and Emilie Hess spoke eloquently and passionately about their subjects. Grace incorporated Winston Churchill’s quote “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life” into her argument that parents should be screened before having children. Emilie used Noam Chomsky’s famous edict that “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all” to critique the Quebec government’s controversial Charter of Values.
Other students honoured that day were the 30 (a record number!) daughters and granddaughters of Old Girls whose names were called upon to stand up for this year’s Roll Call. The youngest three girls on this list-- Gabriella Batchoun, Mary Cundill, and Daniella Souaid—took great pride in joining Head Girl Jessica Hier onstage to cut the first slices of the special green cake. Old Girls, Grade 11 students, and others gathered in the Maysie MacSporran Library afterwards, to enjoy a fine tea with their cake.
FRIDAY: CAREER DAY
Many Old Girls as well as former Head of School Molly Fripp returned on the following day to hear the 21st annual Molly Fripp Lecture delivered by Pamela Dinsmore (’77) and then to participate in this year’s Career Day. Ms. Dinsmore reflected on her meteoric rise to the top of the Rogers Communications corporate ladder, and included 10 tips for getting there in her advice to current students.
Many Old Girls as well as former Head of School Molly Fripp returned on the following day to hear the 21st annual Molly Fripp Lecture delivered by Pamela Dinsmore (’77) and then to participate in this year’s Career Day. Ms. Dinsmore reflected on her meteoric rise to the top of the Rogers Communications corporate ladder, and included 10 tips for getting there in her advice to current students.
Ms. Dinsmore then joined the other session presenters (50% of them Old Girls) at this year’s Career Day. ECS students in Grades 8 to 11 each attended three sessions, where they had chance to hear the presenters share their wisdom and experience. From Stand-Up Comedy to Litigation Law, this year’s Career Day truly had it all!
SATURDAY: PARTY DAY
No ECS event could be said to truly have it ALL without a little friendly competition…. and so this year, for this first time, Homecoming featured a scavenger hunt. Old Girls took over the school on Saturday morning, buzzing from end to end of the building as each team vied to answer all of the challenges. This is a new ECS tradition that’s bound to continue in future years!
No ECS event could be said to truly have it ALL without a little friendly competition…. and so this year, for this first time, Homecoming featured a scavenger hunt. Old Girls took over the school on Saturday morning, buzzing from end to end of the building as each team vied to answer all of the challenges. This is a new ECS tradition that’s bound to continue in future years!
Later that evening, Old Girls mingled over cocktails and appetizers in the Maysie MacSporran Library, posed for Class photos, and lingered over those displayed on the Archives table. The Class of ’63 (celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation) particularly enjoyed seeing photos of THEIR school, as they were the last group to graduate from Miss Edgar’s when it was located on Cedar Avenue.
As Head of School Katherine Nikidis reminded the 70+ guests who gathered over the delicious reunion dinner in the Alan and Roula Rossy Family Dining Room, what makes alumnae from all years refer to their alma mater as “our school” is not the buildings, but the people: this was certainly evident throughout the three memorable days of Homecoming.
*Note: More (and more!) photos will be added over the coming days...check back often!
*Note: More (and more!) photos will be added over the coming days...check back often!
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Land Acknowledgment
The ECS community acknowledges that the land on which we learn is the ancestral territory of the Kanien'kehá (Mohawk) Nation. We honor the continued presence of Indigenous peoples on this land and remain wholeheartedly committed to working towards reconciliation.
ECS is a private school for girls that offers educational services in English from kindergarten to secondary 5, leading to the secondary school diploma (MEQ).
