By Staff
March 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The closing of a high school is never a pleasant experience particularly when many in the community were opposed to the closing.
At the Lester B. Pearson High School they are calling the occasion a Celebration that will take place over two days: June 1 and 2, 2018
The Pearson high school students were always an active bunch: during a teacher strike they protested the bill before the provincial legislature.
The people organizing the event want to know who is interested – past and present students, alumni, and former staff are being asked to an interest survey by April 7
A full slate of engaging activities are being organized to celebrate Lester B. Pearson High School (1976-2018) on Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, 2018. Events are planned for students, alumni and staff, both past and present, to celebrate the school’s 42-year history. Lester B. Pearson High School will close at the end of June 2018, with students moving to nearby M.M. Robinson High School.
All events will be held at Lester B. Pearson High School (1433 Headon Rd, Burlington). The two-day celebration will include a number of activities to recognize and honour accomplishments over the decades of students, staff and the wider Pearson community.
Friday, June 1, 2018 – Patriot Generation Sports Tournaments and Pep Rally with world renowned Burlington Teen Tour Band, food trucks and entertainment, play and watch ball hockey, basketball, touch football, soccer, volleyball, and enjoy socializing with longtime friends.
Saturday, June 2, 2018 – Open House with Decades Showcase, Tours and Closing Ceremony with Lester B. Pearson’s granddaughter, Patricia Pearson, and founding principal, David Katz, along with music, videos and representatives speaking about the decades. Reception to follow.
To assist with planning, everyone attending the celebrations is encouraged to complete the Lester B. Pearson Celebration: Save The Date Survey and learn more about the planned events. The survey will remain open until Saturday, April 7, 2018 and will help event organizers confirm what activities are of interest to attendees and how many people to expect.
So far, approximately 300 surveys have been completed, with more than 650 attendees expected to attend, including students and staff from the 1970s through to current day.
To learn more about the celebration activities, like and share the Celebrate Lester B. Pearson High School Facebook page, follow @CelebrateLBP on Twitter, visit www.CelebrateLBP.com or email celebrateLBP@hdsb.ca.
For additional information, contact: Loraine Fedurco, Principal, Lester B. Pearson High School: 905-335-0961
It will be an occasion filled with mixed emotions.
I also agree with the above comments.
I think we will have a pleasant surprise with the upcoming Municipal election, if all goes well there will finally be Trustees from Burlington with backbone and act on what is best for the students
I totally agree with the 2 previous comments. A school is a vital part of a community. All politicians should be held accountable for this unforgivable decision. But, will we get better after the elections in June and October?? I don’t think so.
And now, the trustees and Director of Education want a new Board office. What a joke. Look at the HCSB. They don’t have a Taj Mahal. Get over yourselves: you are a joke.
Dear Gazette,
You are absolutely correct in your statement “It will be an occasion filled with mixed emotions.”
I believe the emotions will range from sad, disappointed, upset and angry to anticipation of better times to come with a renewed future.
The emotions of sad through angry will be felt by those citizens who have witnessed the damage done to their neighbourhood and city by politicians (Provincial, Municipal and Halton District School Board Trustees).
However in the short future this sadness and anger will turn to joy and celebration following the Provinical election and removal of the Wynne Government and Local MPPs a week later.
This euphoric wave of celebration will continue into October 2018 with the event of municipal elections when 5 city councillors who did not efffectively oppose Burlington high school closings along with HDSB Trustees: Reynolds, Grebenc and Papin who voted to close two (2) Burlington high schools are voted out of office and public life.
Well said George!
Although I have no direct connection with Lester Pearson my sense is that Pearson is very closely tied to the surrounding community. If one believes that neighbourhoods are important to a sense of community identity, and that schools are integral part of that relationship, one can’t help but be chagrined at the impending loss of this important institution.
Eleanor McMahon was absolutely useless during the school closure discussions. Her silence spoke volumes, and she proved conclusively that she is nothing more than a hand puppet. Silence is condonation. She absolutely needs to be dumped come June 7th as she is a pitiful defender of this community’s interests. Ditto most of the Board of Education trustees and this Council.