Cornwall Classical College to hold a reunion

Nick Seebruch
Cornwall Classical College to hold a reunion
Pictured from left-to-right are Pierre Guindon

CORNWALL, Ontario – In the early 1950s, the Clercs de St. Viateur opened the Classical College in Cornwall. The College was open from 1955 until 1968, but the students who attended that school during those 13 years still have fond memories.

“Those years were jewels as far as Francophone culture and education were concerned,” said Andre Vermette, a graduate of the college who was one of the students who boarded at the school.

Vermette and his fellow alumni are organizing a reunion in honour of the 50th anniversary of the college’s last year.

The event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 at the Nav Centre.

“We want to invite anyone who had any ties to the college in the community,” said Vermette.

The Cornwall Classical College was located in Cornwall’s East End where St. Lawrence College is now. Through a partnership program with the University of Ottawa, the college offered a classical Liberal Arts education for students from Grade 9 right up until they graduated eight years later with their Bachelor of Arts degree.

Pierre Guindon, another graduate from the college who grew up in Cornwall said that this classical education has influenced him throughout his life.

“My love of classical music started there,” he said. “The first classical piece I heard was Bolero by Ravel.”

Guindon went on to transfer to the University of Ottawa. After he graduated he played in the CFL for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers and the Montreal Alouettes before becoming Solicitor for the City of Cornwall.

The Classical College was not just restricted to male students however, female students like Madeleine Fournier were allowed in the college at the post-secondary level.

Alumni of the Cornwall Classical College or community members who supported the school are all invited to the reunion in September.

Those interested in tickets or more information are asked to reach out to Ronald Lalonde at lalonderonald@gmail.com

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