ATHABASCA — Graduates from the Edwin Parr Composite High School Class of ’84 have made it their mission to meet up regularly in the decades since finishing high school and starting the rest of their lives, with classmates travelling from as far as New Zealand and Australia to reconnect.
“In Grade 12, everybody was close. Even the teachers said we’re an odd bunch,” said Rhonda Gustafson, an ’84 graduate and long-time Athabasca local. “We just kept in touch; there’s always somebody that makes it happen.”
But this June’s gathering differed from the rest; 2024 marks the 40th year since the group crossed the stage and tossed their caps. In the four decades since, much has changed in Athabasca: the town has a new high school, new recreation facilities, and new faces.
And one of the most notable and drastic changes to the landscape took place in the last four weeks — an event Gustafson said the group of 50 took time to reflect on.
“It hit home, regarding the Union burning,” said Gustafson. “Things can disappear in an instant; people pass as you get older. You’re not always promised tomorrow, so let’s get together while we can.”
Approximately 35 grads of ’84, with spouses and plus-ones in tow, celebrated their 40th graduation reunion the weekend of July 27. The crew made two major stops in town, visiting a memorial bench the class had installed near the site of the old high school for late class members, and a stop at an Athabasca staple for nostalgia’s sake.
“We usually don’t take pictures, but since the Union burnt down, I said, ‘You know what our iconic spot is? The Burger Bar.’ Half of us would eat lunch every day at the Burger Bar,” said Gustafson.
“We all went in and got an ice cream cone, one of the grads said, ‘It’s on me.’ It’s the best ice cream there is.”
The group of grads set up camp and played games at Jewell Ballpark, south of the industrial area of town. Gustafson said conversation focused around sharing new stories and reliving old ones.
“There’s no place like home,” said Gustafson. “It brings back a lot of memories, of course.
“We like each it, we like each other. We love our small town.”
