Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
CALUMET ISLAND
Sept. 16, 2017
A group of high school graduates from Calumet Island decided to get the old gang back together, meeting just down the street from where their old stomping grounds used to reside.
Although the building may be gone, the 1966-67 grade 10 students had no problem reigniting old friendships and sharing plenty of stories of years gone by when they gathered at the Café de L’Île Saturday afternoon.
“There’s an excitement in the air,” said Elizabeth Kovacs, a sentiment enforced by the various conversations buzzing through the room.
Kovacs explained that the last time they held a reunion, in 1986, it was much harder to reach out to some of their old friends.

She praised Facebook for making this reunion much easier for getting in touch with the group.
“If you left at 15 or 16, you didn’t have a lot of pocket change and couldn’t keep in touch as well,” said Kovacs, of the difficulty of staying in contact. “Even when we did the party in ’86, we had to go through the archives.”
For some, this reunion marks the few times they’ve returned to the island since they were in their teenage years. Jackie Lagarde, who travelled from Summerland, B.C., didn’t make it out for the ’86 reunion and hadn’t seen the group since graduation.
Alain Ménard, of Stanbridge East, Que., recognized this as the second time he returned to Calumet Island, and marked the occasion as feeling familiar.
“I had a second of hesitation,” said Ménard, of attending the reunion. “Then I said to myself, it’s a great idea.”
Also present for the reunion were two former teachers of the group, Cécile Patry and Gaëtan Viau. Though Viau wouldn’t finger who the troublemakers from the class used to be, he did have plenty to share.
“It’s nice to renew acquaintances and remember old times,” said Viau. “Some faces I had a hard time recognizing, but that’s because some faces change.”
Viau, who’s been retired from teaching for 16 years now, said he’s maintained contact with some throughout the years, but others he hasn’t seen since they left the island.
“Fifty years ago, you don’t expect everyone to be here,” he said. “It’s nice to be reminded of certain things [forgotten] along the way.”
There were a few classmates they’ve lost over the years. Six members of the group were paid tribute to in the opening speech given by Kovacs, remarking that their memories would be preserved by their continued friendships.
The afternoon’s gathering was organized by Kovacs and Lilian Shea, and highlighted by a meal plus the opportunity for the group to fill everyone else in on what they’ve been up to over the years. Afterwards, everyone was invited to a campfire at one resident’s home nearby.
“We took a long pause of 30 years,” said Kovacs, referencing the 1986 reunion. “And now we’re back as if yesterday.”