My time at Quebec High - Part of my Anglo-Quebecer Roots Steve Ridlington Class of 1970 I’m Steve Ridlington, a Quebec High graduate of the Class of 1970 and a proud Anglo-Quebecer.
In early July of this summer, my wife and I were traveling from Ontario to our home in the maritimes (Sackville, NB) and dropped into Quebec High for the first time since the mega reunion of the Quebec 400 celebrations of 2008. We had heard of the anticipated move to a new school premises in Ste. Foy and wanted a last look at 945 Belvedere. We were warmly welcomed by school staff who took time from their day to listen to memories of my time at the school and to share the realities and challenges facing the school in contemporary times. Now, as in my time,
Quebec High is an important catalyst in supporting the English community in Greater Quebec City. My paternal grandfather was a British soldier in the Garrison of Quebec when, in 1903, British forces were withdrawn back to England. A number of troops were offered the opportunity to transfer to the Canadian military and he did. He was injured during the First World War and released to a job with the Canadian National Railway and lived in Sillery. Our recent visit was also to see my father’s and uncle’s names etched in bronze on the Second World War Veterans’ Memorial plaque in the Quebec High lobby. My brother was a 1961 grad of the school, too. My school years were a chronicle of a similar experience for many Anglo-Quebecers in regards to the schools I attended. My Dad was a soldier attached to Royal 22nd Regiment at the Quebec Citadel and then at Base Valcartier. I attended kindergarten to Grade 6 at Ste. Foy Elementary; Grade 7 and 8 at Alexander Wolff School (Base Valcartier); Grades 9 to 11 at Quebec High and received one of the first CEGEP diplomas issued by St. Lawrence College in 1972. My subsequent university studies included degrees from Mount Allison University and the University of Waterloo. Parallel to these academic experiences was the day-to-day reality of living as a minority in Quebec City. Supported by the reinforcement of school, church and community activities in English, we lived “total immersion” in our other interactions with the broader dimensions of being “citoyens de la Ville de Québec”. It was my experience, that this duality of language and cultural experience made us stronger, more aware and better equipped as Canadians. I had a 36-year career in bilingual positions in the federal civil service and excelled in formal assessments of my second language knowledge across that time. My growing up as an Anglo in Quebec City played a big part in that success. The passage of time and life experience has refined and underlined the value of my time in the Blue and Gold environment. Kudos to the faculty and staff of today for carrying the torch in making and keeping the institution a cornerstone of the Anglo-Quebec reality. May graduates going forward appreciate the value of their awareness of both cultures. Thank you – Quebec High School – merci bien.
Below is an email received by Community Coordinator, Ed Sweeney
On 10 July, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting QHS. I am a member of the Class of 1970 and had not been back to visit since the mega-reunion associated with Quebec City’s 400th anniversary. I wanted to reach out and particularly thank your wife for her warm and friendly welcome and her patience & grace as she shared time with us. She showed us around, fielded questions about the school today & sought out reminiscences I shared about the school at the end of the 1960’s. I promised her I would reach out to you for a possible sharing of a reflection piece for the alumni newsletter. My experience included time at Ste. Foy Elementary, Alexander Wolff School, Valcartier base (when it’s students were Anglos), QHS & St. Lawrence College (Wolfe Avenue campus) where I earned one of its first CEGEP diplomas. I was an armed forces offspring & lived behind Place Laurier for a time and at Base Valcartier. Your wife and I discussed the unique perspective we as English Quebecers have on the bilingual nature of our country. Having lived in Quebec City as a minority, gained my second language at school and absolutely by total immersion beyond those walls and with ties over the years to both communities, we as grads of the system are unique in many ways.
7 My roots gave me a strong 2 language status across 36 years in the federal civil service and I think a broader more appreciative perception of Canada’s two leading cultures. As an institution with both a historical tradition and contemporary mission to continue to prepare young people in the way you do, I am very proud of my “Blue & Gold” roots. Best to you both & “Go Blazers”! Steve Ridlington, Class of 1970
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