This RYCI Blog is No Longer Being Actively Maintained (sorry)

January 16, 2023

Dear Readers:

"Thank you" to those of you who have read and maybe even provided comments/photos for this blog. Unfortunately, time is moving on and so am I. Sorry, but I will not be actively maintaining this blog. At present, there are some RYCI groups on Facebook, among other possible sources. Best wishes to you all. Thanks again for stopping by.

Catherine

 In Memoriam (from 2019)

WILLIAM "BILL" HILDEBRAND

May 3, 1928 -  November 14, 2019

 https://turnerporter.permavita.com/site/WilliamBillHildebrand.html?s=40

 In Memoriam

 

Mary Neale

Sunday, May 15th, 1927 - Saturday, October 10th, 2020

https://memorials.wardfuneralhomes.com/mary-neale/4354850/

 

Betty Helen MacGregor (Ms. Morrison)

June 16, 1921 - November 9, 2020

https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/betty-macgregor-1080826806

 

 

Isobel K. Ganton

February 23, 1930 - December 15, 2020

https://humphreymiles.com/tribute/details/6128/Isobel-Ganton/obituary.html

Rev. Norman Stirling David Esdon

June 24, 1944 – December 31, 2020

https://obittree.com/obituary/ca/ontario/kingston/direct-cremation-services-inc/rev-norman-esdon/4460857/

A Salute to R.Y.C.I. 1953-1982

 A Salute to R.Y.C.I. 1953-1982

This is a copy of the May 29, 1982 program for the RYCI alumni get-together prior to the school closing. Cover/program designer: unknown. 

In Memoriam: Kenneth Noble

Sad news to share: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ken-noble-obituary?pid=196304921

My thanks to Mr. Noble's family member for sending me this info. Sincere condolences to Mr. Noble's family.

In Memoriam: Mary Broadley Cunningham

Very sorry to hear of Mary Broadley Cunningham's passing (thanks to a former fellow Royal Yorker for sending me this info).
https://turnerporter.permavita.com/site/MaryCunninghammary.html?s=40

RYCI Assembly at a Reunion, c. 1978-1982

Get-together on Saturday, May 5, 2018, 7 p.m. at Orwell's Pub

Hi folks: the following info on this get-together was shared by Marilyn T. on one of the Facebook RYCI groups. If you need further info, you may want to contact Marilyn via that Facebook group. Thanks.

"Greetings RYCI! We are having our next get-together at Orwell's Pub on Saturday, May 5th, at 7:00pm. We welcome anyone from any year along with any friends you may wish to bring. Cheers, Marilyn https://www.facebook.com/pg/OrwellsPub/photos/?tab=album&album_id=525485937470681 "

Royal York Collegiate Institute Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RoyalYorkCI/

Save the Date: Royal York Collegiate Institute (RYCI) 20th Annual High School Reunion, Sat. June 4, 2016

Royal York Collegiate Institute (RYCI) 19th Annual High School Reunion, Sat. June 6, 2015

Registration Deadline is Friday, May 29, 2015

Calling All Royal Yorkers (All Years):

This year's golf and/or dinner event is Saturday June 6, 2015 at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario.

Note: You DO NOT need to attend the golf event in order to participate. If you wish, you can register only for the "Mixer, Dinner and Charity Raffle." Hope to see you there this year!

This reunion is being organized by Vic Harris and Team. Please see website for more info: http://perkinsservices.com/golf/info.html

Thanks!

RYCI Gathering at Orwell's Pub in Etobicoke on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm

RYCI gathering at Orwell's Pub on Saturday, May 9th, at 7:00 p.m. Address: 3373 Bloor St W., Toronto
Tel. 416-236-3339

Organized by Marilyn Taylor. For more information, contact Marilyn Taylor, via Royal York Collegiate Graduates Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2383447689/

2014 Annual Royal York CI Midtimers’ Reunion, Saturday, June 7, 2014, Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Etobicoke

The 2014 Annual Royal York CI Midtimers’ Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Etobicoke.

Vic Harris and team have issued this invitation to all former Royal Yorkers:

You are invited to the 18th Annual Royal York CI Midtimers’ Reunion.  We really want to see you this year!

Let’s get together and have a good time – seeing old friends and teachers, enjoying a wonderful dinner, and maybe winning some fabulous prizes.   Join us for the pre-dinner mixer that starts at 5:00, with dinner and festivities at 6:45.  Consider coming out for the afternoon fun scramble reunion golf tournament.  (A good time for the novice or the pro.  And great prizes to be won.)  Everyone will take home some neat RYCI souvenirs.   Enjoy the RYCI Memorabilia displays.  This will be a special memory event.

Register before Wednesday, May 14th and win 3 free tickets to the Charity Prize Raffle Draw.  Last year the value of the prizes was over $6,000.

Register for golf and receive an additional 3 free Raffle Tickets.  Deadline for registrations is Friday, May 30. Click here to download the registration form

The registration form also contains other information on this year’s event. To register, fax the registration form to:  416-947-0545, or call Tracy at 416-947-0348, or mail-in the form to:

RYCI 2014 Reunion

c/o Perkins

1430 Birchmount Rd

Scarborough ON  M1P 2E3

Saturday, June 7^th, Royal Woodbine Golf Club – Etobicoke, 195 Galaxy Blvd.

Reception/Mixer: 5:00 - 6:45

Dinner/Festivities: 6:45 - 9:00

Scramble Golf Tournament

Registration: 12:00 - 1:00

Tee-offs: 1:30 (Shotgun Start)

Reception/Dinner/Raffle: $65.00

Golf/Dinner/Raffle: $165.00

Golf Only: $121.00

This year’s charity is the Dorothy Lee Hospice in Etobicoke

See you on the 7th of June.

Your 2014 Reunion Committee

Rhonda Bell, Laurie Elgar, Lonna & Greg Holosko, Bill Tranah, Hugh Sargant, Mike Simeone, Ted Zuraw & Vic Harris

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/d06d9165e0bb3375902bb1f4b/files/Golf_2014_Invite_Register_Web.pdf

RYCI--The Movie

On April 6, 2014 Rick Piet posted a note on the RYCI Facebook group pages that he is "in the middle of a script for my next movie - Our Royal York Movie!" For information on this and how you might be able to participate, please visit the RYCI FB group pages (there are currently two such group pages) and contact Rick:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RoyalYorkCollegiate/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2383447689/

Thanks!

A Salute to R.Y.C.I. 1953-1982

Photo is from the cover of the May 29, 1982 program for the RYCI alumni get-together prior to the school closing. Cover/program designer: unknown. 

17th Annual Royal York Collegiate Institute RYCI Midtimers Day, High School Reunion, Saturday, June 8, 2013

RYCI High School Reunion Golf, Social mixer, Dinner, and Houston McPherson (musical comedy impressionist) Show will be held at Royal Woodbine Golf Club, 195 Galaxy Blvd., Toronto, ON M9W 6R7—Note: you Do Not have to play golf to attend; you can just come for the social mixer, dinner, and show. For more details, see photos (save & enlarge as necessary) or visit Royal York Collegiate groups on Facebook. Registration form is provided below.

SAVE THE DATE: SAT., JUNE 8, 2013—Annual RYCI Golf & Social Reunion, Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Toronto, Ontario

Calling all former Royal Yorkers (spouses/partners welcome, too)! Show your school spirit and have a great time renewing old acquaintances, catching up, and making new friends. For some 16 years, Vic Harris and a team of dedicated volunteers have been organizing this terrific golf and social event. You don’t need to play golf to attend. You can just come for the evening reception and dinner. The 2012 event had about 100 attendees. Let’s do even better in 2013. There’s also a prize table and raffle, with money being raised for charity (something Royal Yorkers always did well!).
The RYCI Golf & Social Reunion will be held at the Royal Woodbine Golf Club, 195 Galaxy Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M9W 6R7, tel. (416) 674-4653.
So, put Saturday, June 8, 2013 into your datebook now and (if you haven't done so already) send Vic Harris your name and contact information to get on the mailing list (at least an email address; postal address if you want printed info). You can reach Vic via this website, which also has more info on/photos from this annual event: http://www.perkinsservices.com/charity.html
We hope to see you there!

RYCI Bling: What some of us wore (photo courtesy of Jim Carpenter)

Here are a few pictures that may bring back some memories of RYCI, although they were taken c.2009.

RYCI Alums Reunion—September 15, 2012, Orwell’s Pub, 3373 Bloor St. W., Etobicoke

Royal York Collegiate Institute alums are holding a reunion on Saturday, September 15, 2012 (anytime after 7 p.m.) at Orwell’s Pub (S/W corner of Bloor St. W. and Islington Ave.-- 3373 Bloor Street W.; tel. (416) 236-3339). The organizer of this event is Marilyn Taylor. According to Marilyn, Orwell’s is a “very casual pub with an outdoor patio” and “anyone from any year at RYCI or ECI [Etobicoke Collegiate Institute] is welcome. By all means, you can also bring along any friends you wish to bring as the more, the merrier. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again.” As of August 18, 30 folks had confirmed their attendance at this reunion. You may reach Marilyn to confirm your attendance at this event (for reservation purposes) via the Royal York Collegiate Institute group or the Royal York Collegiate Graduates group (yes, there are 2 such groups) on Facebook.

Yet Another Test--This time it's Canadian History

Test your knowledge of Canadian history and government with this Grade 10 test (excerpt) from 1968.

Sports at RYCI--Girls' Volleyball

RYCI had an active sports program and many championship wins over the years. Here's one example from February 21, 1968, when the girls' Jr. volleyball team won the Borough of Etobicoke Girls' Interschool Volleyball Championship.

What We Read...

Here's a list of Grade 12 Textbooks for 1969-70 (click image and zoom in as necessary)

Academics at RYCI

Royal York Collegiate had a solid reputation as a highly academic high school. Just for fun, here's a sample of some of the tests some of us endured. And feel free to help yourself to a Scholarship bar.

Arts at RYCI

The former RYCI building now houses the Etobicoke School of the Arts. This is perhaps fitting since there was no shortage of artist talent among Royal Yorkers. Here are few examples of program covers for dramatic productions, c. 1966-1971. If you have exact dates for these covers please let me know. The cover designers were as follows: The Desperate Hours, c. 1966-67--Mary Armstrong; Oklahoma, c. 1968--Judy Lee: The Boyfriend, c. 1969--Judi Lee; My Sister Eileen, c. 1970--Robert Capel. As I recall the theatrical productions were of a very high quality (at least in my opinion).

Note to cover designers: anyone who does not want their artwork displayed here please let me know and I will remove it. Thanks.
Cathy Gibson