by Fred Morris
2 July 2026
During the 1970s at SJCI, Work Experience was first introduced. Social activities included Spirit Week, the Winter Carnival, Car Rallys, teachers vs students in Reach for the Top, and the SJCI band performing at the 1978 Schmockey Night at the Winnipeg Arena. Schmockey Night was an annual fundraiser for the March of Dimes that unexpectedly disappeared in the early 1990s.
Let us remember a few of the 1970s teachers. During the 1970s, Rob Gardiner continued to direct musicals and dramas. The 1970s productions included The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, Trial by Jury, and Noye Fludde. At the end of the decade, Rob transferred to John Taylor Collegiate. Guidence Councillor Lorne Hoag introduced the Jobs for Jimmies Display Board. In September 1969, Tom Dercola, an English teacher, began his 38-year career as an SJHI teacher. Tom is currently one of the chairs of the 75th Reunion Committee. He hosts a Monday Morning Radio Show on CJNU 93.7 FM. Miss J. Merlevede taught French at SJCI in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Karol Bachmann is remembered for his passion for teaching Latin and encouraging students to play table tennis. Mike James hosted legendary biology field trips to Riding Mountain and Oak Hammock. (Full disclosure: My 1966 decision to take Physics instead of Biology added a year to my time at SJCI.)
In 1970, Rosemary Head became SJCI's first Ombudsman. She was on the Eaton's Junior Council. Susan Collier became the first SJCI student to be a page at the House of Commons. During the mid 1970s, Hedley Auld won a Rhodes Schlorship. Debra Jonasson Young held various positions during a 27-year career at Eatons: Manager of the St. Vital store and General Manager for Manitoba and North Western Ontario. Louise Olson, an English Professor, won the 2018 U of M Migizii Award at Graduation Pow Wow for making a significant impact on Indigenous students. Jan Currier is an Event and Project Manager, currently one of the chairs for the 75th Reunion of St. James Collegiate. Kathy Knight is a Director of the James Burns Education Center at the University of Manitoba Asper School of Business. Kathy Knight previously served as the CEO of Tech Manitoba. Cindy Jonasson and Candy Nagaramoi (twins) were long-time employees of Winnipeg Supply.
Ed Johner has owned two Windsor Plywood franchises. After surviving prostrate cancer in 2007, he became a spokesperson for the annual Ride for Dad. Stefan Jonasson is a Unitarian Minister and historian. He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.
I discovered four future school trustees: Jennifer Lawson, Craig McGregor, Gord McKinnon, and Scott Johnston. Jennifer has written several books called Hand On to help teachers. Scott was an MLA between 2016 and 2023. He followed in the footsteps of his father J. Frank and became a cabinet minister. The Johnstons are one of the very few families with Manitoba multi-generational cabinet ministers. In 1973, Dave Iverson, Pat Ryan, John Allardyce, and Robert Christie won the Manitoba Winnipeg Free Press Junior Men's Championship. In 1979-80, Diane Scott was the SJCI Freshman Female Athlete of the Year. She had previously won similar awards at Linwood School and Deer Lodge Junior High.
Many of the 1970s SJCI students enjoyed significant sports accomplishment after graduation. Pat Doyle won the 1983 Manitoba Men's Amateur Golf title. Nils Ling wrote a book True Blue about the 1984 Winnipeg Blue Bomber Grey Cup winning season. Dave Iverson represented Manitoba at the Brier in both 1985 and 1991. Jerry Jones the 1977-78. School President became the Business Manager for the St. James Canucks. The Canucks won three straight MMJHL championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The first championship was remarkable because the Canucks were unable to play any games in their St. James Civic Centre home. Kevin McCarthy is a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. In the 1976-77 season, Kevin scored 105 assists for the Winnipeg Monarchs of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League. He played 558 NHL Games. In 2006, he won the Stanley Cup as an Assistant Coach with the Carolina Hurricanes. Connections to Winnipeg seem to have been a necessary ingredient in both of Carolina's Stanley Cup Champion seasons. Craig Heisinger is another hockey person whose hockey career started off at the Deer Lodge Community Club. He won the 2008 09 James Hendy Award and the 2016-17 Thomas Ebright Award for outstanding work as an AHL Executive. Craig is currently the General Manager of the Manitoba Moose. In 1989, John Allardyce in collaboration with historian Morris Mott wrote a book called Winnipeg Curling Capital 1876-1988. Jeff Ryan was a member of Kerry Burtnyk's 1995 Men's World curling championship team. Pat Ryan played in 11 Briers. He won World Championships in 1993, 1994, and 2003. Dan Chase the School President 1971-73 has been the Promotions Manager for the Winnipeg Goldeyes for over a quarter of a century. During this time the Fish have won three championships: 2012, 2016, and 2017.
The 1970s Governor General medalists were Joan McCallen, Hedley Auld, Eleeta Nokes, Ronald Riopka, Carol Frampton, Jo-Anne Smith, Joanne Sprange, Ronald Klowak, Allan Stevens, Leslie Hulobow, and Carol Stewart.
In 1997, Bob McGregor, a 1970s SJCI Alumni took over the PA duties from Mo Renaud, a 1940s SJCI Alumni. We can say that this SJCI connection between the Bombers and SJCI has lasted 64 consecutive seasons and counting. The Bombers have won six Grey Cups during this time frame.
Page revised: 4 July 2026
