What’s in a word? Plenty if you’re Vic High
2020 grads last to sign attic walls for a while as school undergoes renovations
Victoria High School’s history comes to life on the walls of its attic.
For decades — at least as far back as the 1950s — graduates have signed their names on the walls, along with whatever words of wisdom they have to share.
It’s a multiple-stairway climb, followed by a limbo under a huge duct, to get to the first chamber of autographs. Names cover virtually every surface with sharpie, chalk or paint.
Some are time-worn and hard to read, but Jodi von Marion, class of ’99, wrote clearly: “All in all it’s just another name on the wall,” in a cheeky reference to Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in The Wall.
Sarah Addy, class of ’98, looked to the poet Alfred (Lord) Tennyson for inspiration as she left high school behind, with the words “To strive, to seek and not to yield.”
“I’m going to be a star,” said another grad.
And then there is an anonymous addition from 1982 that inexplicably proclaims “Wieners and pickles.”
Among the oldest is a 1951 signing by Gil Poutney.
Vic High principal Aaron Parker described the attic as “a living, breathing art experiment” — one that continues this year.
“We’re fortunate that [pandemic restrictions] have opened up enough that we’re able to safely have small groups come in here and sign the attic.”
This year’s signings, which will take place over three days, will be the last in the attic for two years, with Vic High set for a $79.7-million seismic refit and expansion.
The student body will be relocated to S.J. Willis Education Centre during the project, where students will be able to sign panels that will eventually be mounted in the Vic High attic.
Parker said he believes most of the attic area will remain intact during the renovation.
He said students were determined to keep up the tradition this year.
“These kids have been through a lot, obviously. They’re going to miss out on most of our traditional year-end celebrations.”
Anna Lazareva, one of just under 200 graduates in the class of 2020, said the attic signing means a lot to students.
“For all of the graduates, it’s just an exciting part to finally go up to the attic when you’ve finished all of your courses to leave your name here to be part of the Vic High history.”
Olaf Steven Jacobson said the signing is a “really meaningful” part of graduation at Vic High.
“It gives you a sense of connection with not just the people who are studying here and working here, but through all the generations that have been here,” he said. “And you get to see not the faces but all the signatures of everyone.”
The signings are an important link to the past, Parker said.
“We call ourselves the oldest school in western Canada and we believe our 144 years is the longest in this part of the world.”
Vic High has been at its current Fernwood site since 1914, but the school dates to 1876 in a log building at the site of what is now Central Middle School.