AVSS: Honouring an Impactful 100th Anniversary by Peri Hayes Isabelle Nethercott and Betty Bekaan, co-chairs of the Arthur Voaden Secondary School (AVSS) Centenary Committee, met one decade prior through organizing their 90th anniversary. The pair reflects on the recent walk-through of the school facilitated at the end of June: “The turnout was even more than we expected,” Isabelle reveals. “This opportunity meant so much to many people.” To this, Betty exclaims, “It was amazing!” Returning to her roots, Betty symbolically presented an official sign off on the intercom to conclude their walk-through. Isabelle and Betty proceed to thank the retired teachers who volunteered their time at this walk-through, representing the ways in which community members continue to come together in honour of this special school. The Centennial Celebration is upcoming this September 26th and 27th, with their main event on the Saturday. Meanwhile, Sunday will entail their closing ceremony and group photo for those interested. With the location to be determined, Isabelle and Betty detail a carefully curated celebration for recognizing 100 years of local history. There will be two food trucks available for lunch — one of which is operated by a former AVSS student — with their open mic from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. There will be memorabilia on display, their ‘Meet the Teacher’ feature, and a live band, along with their dance in the event, silent auction and door prizes. The 8:00 pm evening dance will be held at St. Anne’s Centre, with a photo booth offering customized and on-theme images. For this, $25.00 tickets are purchasable online at voaden100.square.site/s/ shop and for retrieval at The Craft Hive (120 Wellington Street), as well as at their ‘will call’ station at the September 26th event. There will be a selection of local restaurants and hotels offering discounts, as detailed on the aforementioned website.
While the committee has scheduled timeslots for their ‘Meet the Teacher’ feature, as accessible on their website, Isabelle and Betty assure that attendees are certainly welcome to arrive at any time. As Isabelle enthusiastically reveals about this event on the horizon, “Any proceeds will be directed toward the mural fund to commemorate the school, which is in collaboration with Andrew Gunn.” While preparing for this symbolic celebration, Betty expresses, “Generations have gone to this school, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work there as well – it’s like a family. We went to school with some of these people all the way through, creating memories that last a lifetime. There is such a sense of community, and there are people with whom I have remained in contact to this day.” Explore the public ‘Arthur Voaden Centenary’ Facebook page for further information and updates regarding this AVSS anniversary as 100 meaningful years are honoured. ARE YOU PROTECTED FROM A PLUMBING DISASTER? Now you can be with our Annual Service Plans
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Hometown St. Thomas • September 2026 • Page 27
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