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 ~ Ashton Creek School
 ~ Enderby Schools
 ~ ~ AL Fortune School
 ~ ~ Beattie Elem. School
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 ~ ~ River School
 ~ ~ talk with Jean MacPherson
 ~ ~ talk with Grace Lundquist
 ~ ~ talk with Sandra Farynuk
 ~ ~ talk with Donald MacPherson
 ~ ~ talk with Mr. Larson
 ~ ~ talk with Mrs. Reay
 ~ Grindrod School
 ~ Hupel-Mabel Lake School
 ~ Mara School
 ~ North Enderby School
 ~ Springbend School
 ~ Trinity Creek School
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Grace's school years ran from 1947-1956. She went to school in Ashton Creek until Grade 8. She then attended A.L. Fortune for her high school years.

In Ashton Creek there was only one teacher, and a total of 24-30 people in the school. Her grade seven class consisted of only four students. She recalls that in 1952 the girls were allowed to wear slacks, but no curlers were allowed in their hair because it was considered `unladylike'.

She remembers one year there was a huge blizzard on the day of the school Christmas Concert, and there were many parts of the road that were blocked by huge snow drifts. As a result, Grace had to take over a major part in the play, as the girl who was supposed to play it couldn't make it to the school.

In those `good old days' there was no janitor at Ashton Creek School, and it was the children's duty to clean it up. They brought water in for the class from outside, and sometimes the school would provide hot soup and cocoa for the students.

Grace remembers the first bus that came from Ashton Creek to A.L. Fortune was only a small van. She recalls it being difficult at first to fit in with the other students at A.L. Fortune because the students from the individual supplementary schools stuck together so much. Of course everyone soon got to know one another and make new friends.

Grace thinks the annuals (yearbooks) were better when she went to school than they are now. She feels more effort and care were put into them when she went to school.

Back then the boys and girls had separate entrances into the school and separate fields to play in! However, there was only one bathroom, and that was in the basement. Their Chemistry lab was called "The Dungeon" because it was the coldest, darkest room in the school. The main difference Grace sees in education in our time is the help we receive from our teachers. She can't recall ever receiving help on essay format or actual essay writing.

A.L. Fortune had four dances a year, which included the Halloween dance, the Christmas dance, the Valentine's Day dance, and the Graduation dance. At that time the Grade elevens looked after all the preparations for grade twelve graduation.

When Grace graduated from A.L. Fortune in 1955, there were about 50 graduates. The ceremonies were held in the United Church and Drill hall, and continued to be until 1966.

Janine Farynuk
ALF School 1989