The school trophy case.  It’s a treasure trove of memories – the jersey from the glory days on the soccer field, the dog-eared black and white photos of smiling youth at winter carnival, or the plaque forever reminding those before it of the magic moments on the basketball court in days gone by.

The Upper Canada District School Board is committed to preserve these memories for the communities affected by school closures under the Building 2020 process.  Staff members at the board want to ensure this important memorabilia is available for future generations to enjoy and celebrate.

Liz Grange, the Board’s records management coordinator, has offered to store these important memories at the records centre at South Grenville District High School.  Each of the schools that are set to close next year have been given large plastic storage containers and have been asked to select the most important items from trophies to old quilts that once hung on a school wall.

Each school will work through its principal, parent council and other interested parties to select the items to be included in the storage boxes, said Grange.

“These items are historically significant to these communities,” she explained.  “It’s really important to put people in these communities at ease that the historical footprint of their schools will be preserved because these schools were a vital part of these communities.”

Many of the schools are collecting items such as old yearbooks, plaques, trophies, jerseys, and old photographs.  However items selected for storage go beyond what you might expect, said Grange.

Principal Wendy Porteous at Algonquin Public School asked Grange to take care of an important member of their school community known as The Algonquin Weasel.  This little, brown, stuffed animal sat in the trophy case at the school for years and was displayed at a child’s eye level so they could see it as they entered the school each day.  The weasel is very important to students, past and present, and people wanted to ensure it found a new home, so Grange obliged.

The containers will be available to people who want to sign the memorabilia out for special events such as reunions of school alumni, historical displays or other events.

“And this way people don’t have to go all over to find things kept in people’s basements or other locations,” said Grange.

The material will be signed out and Grange will ensure that materials do not go missing when the boxes are returned so others can enjoy seeing these items in years to come. 

For more information, please call:

Liz Grange

Records Management Coordinator

Upper Canada District School Board

613-925-3244 ext. 3307

(posted April 28/09)