The '40s often evoke sad images of a nation torn apart and over-burdened by the Second World War. But for a handful of young boys living in dormitories at the University of Ottawa, these years awake some of the finest memories of their lives.
Joseph-Yves Pilon, secretary-treasurer of the graduating classes of 1942 to 1945 – the oldest group of graduates who still meet officially – was one of those boys. He arrived at the University of Ottawa in 1937 to complete high school. As his parents lived in Rockland, and transportation in those days was difficult, they thought it would be a good idea to register their son, Joseph-Yves, as a boarder.
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This was far from being a punishment for the boys. Certainly, they missed their families from time to time, but they didn't suffer overly. “Being a boarder was not at all like being a prisoner,” says Pilon.
In fact, apart from their studies, they were allowed to go to the movies or skating – outings, which sometimes gave them the opportunity to meet young girls. A large part of their lives was also devoted to sports and leisure activities, such as football, hockey, table tennis, billiards and Mississippi.
Some of the friendships that developed during those years lasted a lifetime. “It didn't take long to get to know everyone. A hearty atmosphere developed very quickly,” adds Pilon.
This theme of deep friendship is captured in accounts from the September 15 reunions: “. . . hovering around Simard Hall . . . some veterans reunited to rekindle their memories of 59 years ago and to reaffirm their unshakeable friendships.”
To rekindle his own memories, Pilon brings out an impressive scrapbook he has compiled over the years: photographs, badges and articles. “Time passes too quickly,” he says. “Not that we're unhappy now, but those were great years. They hold some great memories.”
With time, it has become more and more difficult for the graduates of the years 1942 to 1945 to travel. Some missed this September's reunion due to ill health, while others have died. For this and other reasons, the group's 60th anniversary reunion on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, will be its last.
