Well, the 50th Reunion of MDHS is almost here and you can feel the excitement growing day by day! As May 14th, 15th and 16th draws closer, the enthusiasm is infectious!

I'd like to say hello to all the Before 54 Alumnae and invite each and everyone of you to drag out your old high school mementoes and plan a trip back to Markham for the 2004 celebration of 50 Years on Church Street and 145 Years Educating Markham. Registration forms are available online at www.mdhsreunion.ca/registration.htm or by calling the Hotline at 905-640-0655.

My name is Dorothy (Davies) Gilbert (MDHS 1939 - 1944) and I have become the Official Voice of the Before 54 Alumnae! For the past eighteen months, I have been helping the Reunion Committee to spread the word and encourage as many people as possible to join us for this amazing party. Through the many events and organizations I am involved with I have been handing out Reunion brochures and encouraging friends, relatives and acquaintances to register and take part in all the activities that have been planned for the three days. It's amazing the people I've run into or heard from!!! From locations all over Ontario as well as people here in Markham and the surrounding towns, to old friends living in Western Canada, the word is out that MDHS is ready to celebrate in a big way! The Committee has registrants from Australia, California, Florida and British Columbia.

At first most people I spoke to thought it was only for the Church Street Alumnae so I quickly enlightened them and said "It is for any MDHS Alumnae, administrators, teaching staff or support staff who ever went or worked here, in either location!" This is an opportunity that doesn't come along too often to reconnect with friends you haven't seen for a very long time, return to your old haunts and regenerate the glory days of high school.

The current students of MDHS are busy preparing the Decade Rooms that will serve as Welcome Centres for the returning Alumnae. They will have pictures, mementoes, yearbooks, costumes and decor to bring back the memories of bygone times. They have been working on this all year and are starting to get excited themselves --- they realize they are making history by being a part of this moment.

There's still time to make your plans and get yourself to Markham for the weekend. It will be a once in a lifetime chance that you don't want to miss.

Get on the phone or the Internet today and register for some or all of the events. There won't be a second chance!

I, for sure, will be at the Wine and Cheese Reception on Friday night, visiting the host restaurant on Main Street, spending time in the Before 54 Room on Saturday and taking in the Dinner / Dance at the Markham Fair on Saturday night. Then I plan to attend the church service on Sunday morning and visit with some more friends at the Markham Village Train Station over coffee and muffins afterwards. I don't want to miss a moment of this!

Hope to see you there!! Tell your friends! Bring your kids and spouse! Relive the good times at MDHS!!!!!

Dorothy (Davies) Gilbert

Great News!

The new purchasers of 55 Albert Street (Old MDHS) would love to accommodate our reunion in any way they possibly can. They are inviting Alumni to tour the building. The only concern they have is a safety issue. Having recently purchased the building, they are beginning some renovations the week of the reunion.

We have been permitted usage of the Old High School from 2:30 to 4:30 on Sataurday.   Dave Armstrong along with Ashmore Reesor and Dave Bratton will act as hosts.  Spread the word.

Markham District High School 1917-8
Image courtesy of Mrs. Hazel Bayes