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INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / OCTOBER 2, 1990

Sir James Douglas Greets Simon Fraser

here’s an old adage that his-

tory always repeats itself.

This was the case three
weeks ago as Simon Fraser and a
crew of 35 paddlers arrived by
brigade canoes at Westminster
Quay to celebrate Simon Fraser
University’s silver anniversary.

By the time the crew had ar-
rived at the site where a bust of
Fraser stands guard over the river,
they had travelled nearly 600
kilometres on their odyssey re-
enacting Fraser’s voyage of 1808.

Waiting to greet the party ina
ceremony hosted by the Fraser
River Discovery Centre were other
famous faces from B.C. history
books including Col. Richard Cle-
ment Moody, Capt. William Irving
and Sir James Douglas.

Jacqueline Gresko, Chair of
Douglas College’s Arts and
Humanities Department, says the
College was asked to participate in
the event by the Fraser River Dis-
covery Board (of which she’s a
member). She says it didn’t take
long to find someone to play Sir
James Douglas.

“L asked the secretary to the
board, Margaret Murray if she had
any ideas who we could ask to
play Sir James Douglas,” says
Gresko. “She thought that board
member Abie Klassen looked a lot
like the photograph of Douglas
and would be well suited for the
role.”

Klassen agreed and got the
part. Gresko says his costume and
physical similarities to Sir Douglas
made for an astonishing likeness.

“The costumes were designed
by Linda Stefiuk, our costume as-
sistant at Douglas College,” says
Gresko. “Mr. Kassen really looked
great.”

Accompanying Sir James
Douglas as he greeted Simon
Fraser were his two fur trader
clerks, Sebastian and Abraham
(a.k.a. Brad Barber and Jeff Mc-
Donald from the Public Informa-
tion Office).

 

fo Be

   

 

 

History came alive at the Quay

 

Klassen and Jeff McDonald.

thanks to (left to right) Jacqueline Gresko, |
New Westminster Mayor Betty Toporowski, Col R. Moody, Brad Barber, Abie

 

“A man of Sir James Douglas’
stature would not have attended
such an event without an en-
tourage,” says Gresko.

After the official speeches to
welcome Simon Fraser and his
crew, Sir James Douglas presented
some gifts on behalf of Douglas
College.

“We gave the 20th Anniver-
sary Book, a letter done in callig-
raphy, two Douglas College pins,
pens, bookmarks, t-shirts and
sweatshirts,” says Gresko. “We
wrapped all the gifts ‘fur trade

style’ in brown paper and string.”

Gresko says the gifts were
well received and will probably be
displayed at the university.

“Some of the gifts will probab-
ly go in the Simon Fraser Library
or a University scrapbook,” she
says.

The fur trader clerks used the
occasion to promote Douglas
College’s 20th anniversary by
handing out special invitations to
the Open House, which is sche-
duled on November 16 and 17. @

 

review.

 

To All College Personnel

The Education Council had its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, |
September 19th. Membership was almost complete, with only three |
departments sending observers until election of representatives occurs. |

The major item dealt with by the Education Council was the |
Priority Registration Report. The report and recommendations of the |
Review Committee on Priority Registration were rejected. As a result,
| Bill Day will not be carrying the matter forward to the College Board.

_ With the consent of the Education Council, he will be reviewing the
matter with the College Management Committee. A further presenta-
tion to the Education Council will occur in October on possible lines
of action to deal with the ongoing problems that gave rise to the

Bill Day |

 

 

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