Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI) is inviting members of the community to attend “McCrae Day.”
On June 1, from 5:30 to 9pm the school is hosting an open house, featuring art, music, food and celebrations.
Last year, the school held McCrae Day to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the iconic war poem In Flanders Fields by Lt.-Col. John McCrae – they decided to make it an annual event.
The open house will feature a barbecue with hot food and baked goods prepared by the school’s hospitality class, as well as an art exhibition around the auditorium.
Inside the auditorium, many of the school’s award-winning musical ensembles will perform. Performances will include a tribute to Prince and a musical number from the upcoming Taming of the Shrew production. There will be a 25-guitar medley and three different bands who just recently won medals at the MusicFest national competition will perform.
Members of the school community and those who are interested in learning more about GCVI and the accomplishments of its staff and students are welcome to attend.
Through the “McCrae Day” open house, staff is hoping to raise funds for the school’s McCrae Arboretum. Raffle tickets, t-shirts and food will be on sale, with all proceeds going to the arboretum.
GCVI is also fundraising by selling commemorative plaques for former students of the school who died in combat. The goal is to eventually have one plaque for each soldier hanging in the arboretum. Individuals can sponsor a plaque for $100, and the school will donate $20 from each plaque to Wounded Warriors.
The hope is that the McCrae Arboretum will become a place to be enjoyed by all in the community, a place where people can sit and reflect and read the names of the soldiers who fought in the war.
