Billings 50 ans/50th
Billings 50th anniversary : entertainment galore
le dimanche 27 mai 2018
Modifié à 14 h 34 min le 27 mai 2018
(Dan Rosenburg) There was no shortage of top-drawer entertainment in connection with the 50th anniversary celebration of Howard S. Billings High School.
On May 18, two Chateauguay pubs offered first-rate bands to mark the occasion. The Boulevard had the Outlaws, a trio consisting of vocalists Caren Macbeth and Steve Montour, and percussionist Richard Weiss, who are also members of One Over the Eight, an ensemble that performed at the school the following day when the group also included Goody Bairaktaris on keyboards, drummer Steve Dion and guitarists Ed Durrant and Rick Rossi.
Meanwhile, at the Old Orchard Pub, HSB alumni Peter Bowering and friend knocked 'em cold as the Duomatics. And The Cranes, starring three HSB alumni led by frenetic vocalist Rich Leduc and brothers Cameron and Scott Stirling, headlined the Boulevard evening with what at least one fan, former Billings track athlete David Gagne, described as “an amazing concert.”
On Saturday it was One Over the Eight's turn to shine in the Mosher Auditorium during the Open House. Macbeth fronted the group, singing the iconic Proud Mary in a rendition that would have made Tina Turner proud. Then Montour stepped to the plate with a rousing performance of You May Be Right. The show was moved indoors due to the threat of rain which kept the crowd down to a bare minimum, causing Macbeth to quip: “This is awesome when the band (seven members) outnumbers the audience.”
They were followed to the stage by Lisa Mahabir, whose precious voice is quickly become legend. After a splendid version of Pink's What About Us, the daughter of former HSB teacher Ron Mahabir, performed equally fantastic efforts with her renditions of Stevie Nicks' Dreams, America's Sister Golden Hair and tributes to the late Amy Winehouse, Tom Petty and Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip.
The celebration reached its climax on the evening of May 19 with a closing dance in the school cafeteria. Although there were no soloists or singing groups this time, deejay Dave Smith showed his dexterity and agility on the dance floor by improvising innovative steps to accompany the music he was playing.
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“Howard S. Billings reflects the bilingual community we have,” said mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier in his welcoming address. (Photo Andrew Clark)[/caption]
Chateauguay Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier was on hand, along with city councillors Barry Doyle and Mike Gendron. “Howard S. Billings reflects the bilingual community we have,” said Routhier in his welcoming address. “My own three kids were able to benefit from playing basketball, football and baseball to learn English from their anglophone teammates. We thank you for being part of the Chateauguay community,” he told the HSB alumni present. “In five years, when you hold the 55th anniversary, we will have a nice hotel here.”
Janet Reid, a substitute teacher at HSB who was on the gymnastics team before she graduated in 1970, said that she “realized when I got to university what a good education I had received at Howard S. Billings. With what I had learned, I was able to write term papers and essays that were required, but a lot of my peers from other schools were lost. I remember all my teachers fondly. Some, such as Kirk Atkins and Bruce Hutchinson, really made school interesting.”
Many merry-makers at the dance could not refrain from commenting on the fabulous job of decorating the cafeteria that had been done by Nova students under the direction of teacher Shelley McGowan.
“Howard S. Billings reflects the bilingual community we have,” said mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier in his welcoming address. (Photo Andrew Clark)[/caption]
Chateauguay Mayor Pierre-Paul Routhier was on hand, along with city councillors Barry Doyle and Mike Gendron. “Howard S. Billings reflects the bilingual community we have,” said Routhier in his welcoming address. “My own three kids were able to benefit from playing basketball, football and baseball to learn English from their anglophone teammates. We thank you for being part of the Chateauguay community,” he told the HSB alumni present. “In five years, when you hold the 55th anniversary, we will have a nice hotel here.”
Janet Reid, a substitute teacher at HSB who was on the gymnastics team before she graduated in 1970, said that she “realized when I got to university what a good education I had received at Howard S. Billings. With what I had learned, I was able to write term papers and essays that were required, but a lot of my peers from other schools were lost. I remember all my teachers fondly. Some, such as Kirk Atkins and Bruce Hutchinson, really made school interesting.”
Many merry-makers at the dance could not refrain from commenting on the fabulous job of decorating the cafeteria that had been done by Nova students under the direction of teacher Shelley McGowan.