University of Toronto Architecture Class 7T0 - Niagara-on-the-Lake Sept 20-21 2023

From left to right, Temporale, Smith, Johnston, Hull, McGuire, Yamashita and me. (Missing Ian Malcolm)

On September 20th, 8 members of the UofT School of Architecture 1970 graduating class (and some spouses) assembled in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) for a reunion. Sadly, George Battaglin, who first proposed the reunion missed the gathering since he was in Italy. Premature death, poor health and various other reasons prevented the other 13+/- members of the graduating class from attending. 

Thanks must go to Paul Johnston, a resident of NOTL who organized the event attended by John Hull, Ian Malcolm, Curtis McGuire, Harold Smith, Alex Temporale, and Bob Yamashita. All agreed that Yamashita had changed the least. In fact, he hadn't changed at all!

While many people want to avoid school reunions like the plague, I am not one of them. I think it's wonderful to connect with former classmates from time to time to see how things have turned out. While most of the attendees are now retired, Ian Malcolm https://www.ismarchitects.ca/about/ is one of Barrie's most successful architects and businessmen, and Alex Temporale, who was considered the brightest person in the class continues to be involved with his highly regarded firm. https://cahp-acecp.ca/membership-account/profile/alexander-temporale/. 

At the welcome barbq, John Hull wore a t-shirt featuring his Alberta homestead

Events included a welcoming lunch barbq in Paul Johnston's garden, attendance at the Shaw Festival, and dinner the first evening on the outside patio of the Angel Inn, one of the oldest pubs in Ontario (built in 1789 as The Harmonious Coach House) and reportedly one of the oldest buildings in Canada. 

The following day some of us played golf and then gathered for lunch on the waterfront patio of the Niagara-on-the-Lake golf club, (the oldest course in North America). 

That evening, seven of us had an elegant dinner at The Queens Landing Inn https://www.vintage-hotels.com/queens-landing/ . 

Judy Stauffer, John Hull and Curt McGuire. 

 I arrived a day early before the events and managed to try out some local wines. While Niagara wines are generally not considered as good as Okanagan wines, there are a surprising number of wineries in the region. 

This was my first visit to NOTL in over 40 years. I could not get over how beautiful it is. If anything, it is too beautiful. Like Venice Italy, it is becoming a place dominated by tourists, rather than a place in which to live. The town has an incredible history, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara-on-the-Lake.

I had hoped to stay at the Pillar and Post, where I stayed the last time I was there. However, it, and every other hotel and guest house were fully booked when I was seeking accommodation months ago. 

But I luckily got into the Oban Inn, across from the Golf Course. https://oban.com/ It was very good, although unfortunately the spa facilities were not available after 3pm. I particularly liked having this elegant board room next to my room, where I could work and impress people during Zoom meetings!

John Hull said I was lucky not to stay at the Pillar and Post. He was disappointed with it.

To those classmates who for one reason or another decided not to attend the reunion, you missed a great couple of days. To those who could not attend due to poor health, (and Harry, I'm talking to you,) you were missed. But hopefully, some of you will show up for a 60th reunion in 2030.  And bring your spouses. Here are five of the six who came this year! (Why is it the women always look younger than the men?)

Judy Stauffer and John Hull. Don't be fooled by the canes, Hull still plays a good game of golf, although his recollection of our night together with those girls from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, during the infamous 1965 East Coast blackout was not as vivid as I would have expected.