Jayson Faulkner

I am compelled to do an update because Jay Symons did...which makes me feel guilty about lurking! Very cool reading about where some of us have landed. Some far..some near. I am in the "near "camps. After SFU, got married, moved to Whistler, got divorced, moved to London UK where I worked in the City for some time (loved it). Really fell in love with Europe which we travel to as much as we can. In '89 moved back to Whistler to open my own business with another Hillsider, albeit younger and better looking, Tom Duguid. We founded the Escape Route stores and the Whistler Alpine Guides Bureau (of which I am still involved). I then got remarried and inherited a couple of very cool, very small children. Now very big children who just moved out this spring. I was a partner at Arcteryx for many years until we sold the company in 02 to Adidas. We have been in NV in Capilano HIghlands until a couple of months ago...when we moved back to Whistler to our home there sans large young adults who decided to stay here in the city. Both the boys are in the tech field as web designers or in the games industry. We are now in the middle of a renovation at Whistler (very scary). Yes...we can't make up our minds between Whistler and everywhere else. Can't seem to separate for long from the mountains and skiing, mountain biking, etc. Dori is a high school teacher in Squamish and I still work in the city, NV, 4 days a week with my partners here distributing outdoor gear (backpacks etc) and ski stuff (Movement skis, touring gear, accessories) as well with store. We have done a lot of travelling, a few expeditions here and there in between kids, work, and life in general. No complaints at all and looking forward to catching up with lots of people.

Marie Whelan (Radvak)

I married for the second time almost 10 years ago. Blair had three children and I had three children, all between the ages of 5 and 13. Now we have one at UBC, one at SFU, one at UVic, two at Cap College and one in high school. I work as CFO for one technology company full-time, and on a consulting basis as CFO to several other technology companies, including one that my husband founded with a partner. I used to think that when the kids graduated from high school I would be financially and emotionally independent from them - I was even sad at the thought! But that was an assumption which proved to be false. I love having them around as much as possible, and they are all wonderful people, but they continue to suck me dry :-) financially and emotionally,and will continue to do so until they graduate from university/college and get real lives and careers. Or maybe that is also a delusion that I cling to? So I continue to dream about the great European adventure but I'm not even in the planning stage yet. Life at home is still the great adventure.Sometimes I am thrown a little by the fact that we are old enough to be contemplating a 30th high school reunion - how can that be? Two of my sons partied last year in S16 Gage Towers at UBC - the same quad I used to live in, and the same quad where I met their father. How can that be? I keep telling myself how lucky I am to have had the last 30 years, but I pray that the next 30 years go by more slowly! Life is great. I try not to take for granted my good fortune in that my parents, husband and children are all healthy, we have a great house in North Van, and we even have the cutest dog in the world.

Cathy McDonald (Welch)

I can't believe it's 30 years!! I missed the 20th reunion as my mother-in-law passed away that evening so I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone this October. Probably won't recognize anyone - of course I haven't changed a bit!!
I worked as a Registered Nurse for many years but retired after a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. As much as I missed work, being at home allowed me to be a full-time mom. We have 3 wonderful boys - or should I say men. The eldest is an electrical engineer - he lives in California and works for a robotics company. Our middle son is finishing his medical science degree in Ontario and plans to continue his education in dentistry. Our youngest son played hockey for the WHL for the past 4 years. He has retired at the ripe old age of 19 and is taking business at BCIT. My husband and I love to travel and we have been lucky enough to call West Vancouver home. We spend weekends in Point Roberts & Pender Harbour and visiting the kids where ever they may be. No grandchildren yet - but can't wait!!

Jay Symons

skiing, SFU, some school in the states in the early 80's.
Living briefly in Toronto in mid/late 80's for work, and eventually
paroling myself (from Ontario & the states).
Now splitting time between wvan (2 doors from where I grew up in
Caulfield), and Whistler, where we built a Fawlty Towers like lodge/
restaurant (www.edgewater-lodge.com) some 13 years ago.
I live with my better half - Anne who works @ LGH in the emerg as a
doc, & so far we've only given birth to a 9 year labrador uber hund. So recently wondering what the heck happened to wvan, the last 30
years, and would enjoy not living in a boom town much longer, blah,
blah, blah. (Really enjoyed a canoe trip to N Sask this summer for
at least that reason. )
Still love the mtns...
Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Chris Andrews

Sinc '97 we have traded the cold wide open spaces of the north for the warmth of the Okanagan Valley. General practice has given way to full time Emergency Medicine. Better for skiing in the winter. We are enjoying rediscovering the world through the eyes of our two sons, Aidan 8 and Torin 4. The occasional triatholon keeps me healthy enough to stay away from my own doctor and gives me hope that I can one day accompany Gordie Ferguson on one of his frequent trips to the Himalayas. See you all in October!!

Dave Janz

I missed the 20th reunion so I’m really looking forward to this gathering! Looking through the list of grads brings back lots of memories. Since ’77 I spent quite a while going to university (like, 15 years…) and adding some extra letters after my name. I worked in the States for a while, and for the past 5 years I’ve been a professor at the vet school in Saskatoon. I teach toxicology and pharmacology, and my research focuses on the effects of pollutants on wild critters. I also have 3 awesome ‘critters’ of my own, age 4-15. See y’all in October!

Mark Fremmerlid

I have carried out 24,861 hours worth of low level flying jobs. I seem
to be going for the title "pilot with the most experience and least
career advancement" I have fond memories of Hillside and West Vancouver.
I remember racing Anthony Fulker 400 meters. His time was an incredible
55 or 56 seconds. I powered out and walked across the finish line.
Fortunately my children seem to have much more potential. My oldest Chad
(22) is finishing up his engineering degree at the U of A. I spend most
of my spare time with my second boy Brad (18). A good natured young man,
he is severely autistic and unable to talk but I seem to relate to him
quite well. I recently took a nostalgic trip to West Van with my
youngest girl Amanda (13). We swam at Sandy Cove, played tennis at
McKechnie Park, and went up Cypress Bowl to look at the now grown over
launch points for my old hang-glider.
I’ll never forget my grade 12 English teacher Dashwood Jones. He
convinced me I could write, so much so that I have gone way out on a limb and
self published a book! My oldest daughter Darla(17) has used her talents
to make a great website for this very short book. You can view it at
http://www.blogger.com/www.wassigvaldthemadtrapper.com <http://www.wassigvaldthemadtrapper.com/>
My wife Debbie and I live happily(at least that’s my version) beside the
City Center Airport in Edmonton with three of our children. Brad lives
in a group home close by. I could say I can’t make it to the reunion
because I’m too far away but realistically I’d still rather hide than be
in a social gathering of more than three people. I love to reminisce so
please post on this blog all my nerd type associates so I can make some
comments about you .
Mark Fremmerlid

Denise Clark

I haven't been to a Hillside reunion yet, since I've been out on the East side of the country or many years now. I am a professor at the University of New Brunswick in the Biology Department, teaching and doing research in genetics. I am on sabbatical leave this year and am spending 6 months at the BC Genome Sciences Centre (at VGH campus) so will be in town for the reunion. Am looking forward to a "blast from the past"!

Christine Robertson (Lepik)

Mom of 3 boys, the oldest of which is off to University of Victoria this year. Been living outside of Edmonton working part time at the school and part time at our company at the airport. Cabin at Pigeon Lake. Happily married for 22 years. Ready to retire! but....I just found out that I am now the new School Trustee Elect (sworn in Oct 24th) for the black Gold School Division (just south of Edmonton) for a 3 year term

Heather Denman (Knowlden)

I "retired" after 25 years in advertising in 2003 to try and find that delicate balance of parenting our 4 kids without the appearance of micro-management! After a year and a half, feeling relatively under control, I went back to work for another company involved in marketing high-end real estate development communities. Bat as I couldn't/wouldn't deal with a "5th child", I retired again after one year! Currently I work from home for a glass artist doing "manual labout" - the kids tax my brain enough, so doing something a bit mindless suits me fine! They are heavily involved in Irish dance, music, soccer, field hockey and rugby. Last Spring we confirmed learning differences in Sarah (16) and Sean (9), and decided the regular school system wasn't in their best interests. This September they will all attend a different school; Kate's at Capilano College, Sarah's at Aspengrove Independent School in Nanaimo, Paula's at Carson Graham and Sean will be at Kenneth Gordon School in Burnaby. Ah...the sacrifices of parenthood.. wouldn't have it any other way! Nick and I will be celebrating 24 years of marriage in August, and have lived in the North Van neighbourhood of Pemberton Heights for the past 16 years. Apart from the hectic pace 3 teenagers and 9 year old put you through, life has treated us very well, and we are all healthy and happy. Looking forward to seeing everyone in October!