Alex Arends:
CLASS OF 1963
Woodroffe High SchoolClass of 1963
Ottawa, ON
Alex's Story
Most of you probably don't remember me. I spent my first two years at Laurentian High as a dutch immigrant kid. I had significant language and cultural problems. I repeated the 10th grade at Woodroffe but it did not bother me too much since I had skipped the 8th grade and still was able to graduate just after turning 18. I loved attending classes, particularly days that were shortened due to football or basketball games being played in the afternoon. I had some great teachers and must admit Mr. Thomas was the best teacher I had. He taught history. I remember being in a few fights but found out that once you faced a bully he would leave you alone. I played soccer as a senior, I believe it was the first year it was offered at Woodroffe. During the summers, I worked at Steenbakkers Lumber as a general labor. I did not attend graduating ceremonies because I though...Expand for more
t it was silly to rent gowns and go to a ceremony that occurred weeks after you already graduated. I followed in my brother's footsteps and accepted a job at the Bank of Nova Scotia. Hard to believe that in those days we still made hand entries in savings and checking account books.
After a year of clerking at a bank, I joined the rest of my immediate family and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Within a year I was drafted and I volunteered for Viet Nam, where I served as a Chaplain's Assistant. I then found a job for one of the best companies to work for at that time, a grocery and retail company called Meijer which developed into a giant in the U. S. Midwest while I was there. I worked there 31 years in Corporate Loss Prevention and loved every day there. I also got married to my wife for 40 years and we have 3 daughters and 5 grandkids now. To be continued.
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