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w 1. mei E «it» 5o 4 nc lanet Thomson Smith of Waterloo looks at one of the quilts from the Montreal exhibit. Thomson Smith is a member of the Waterloo County Quilters and the Canadian Embroiders Guild of Waterioo "We want people to come back and see how the school exists today." said Steve Sobezuk, a member of the 150th anniversary reunion committee. "I know Quilt Festival celebrates 10 years of colourful stories t 66 chool of honour. Ss('huul of praise; We‘ll always love you, throughout our days.‘ These lyrics will be sung loud and proud this week end when thousands of for mer and current members of the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo collegiate institute {KC1) community come together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their beloved school. KCI set to party hard for 150th anniversary I‘[‘Rv ~ â€" H[EERS DFCORATIN®C "There‘s a place for just about everybody at this school." BÂ¥ Anokea Baney Chroniwle Staff DFCGRATIN« Steve Sobezuk KCI graduate Spthngpefiectfimetoshaksmmosuvahem«you.reuumgawhuenew look or just want to add some elegance and current styling to your home exterior â€" drop in for great savings on Exterior Paint & Stain during our Outdoor Elegance Event. Visit Heer‘s for our Outdoor Elegance Instore Promotions! 677 BELMONT Avirid KITCHENER Phone 578â€"59 ; oor g/ée,? Shortly after the deciâ€" sion, members of the school‘s 150th anniversary reunion planning commitâ€" tee approached Sobczuk about helping out with "And being that we were coming up on its 150th year, we really didn‘t want to see the school close." KCI supporters got their wish, and the school was removed from the Waterloo Region District school board‘s list of possible closâ€" ings. "It‘s such a central school, and it provides so many serâ€" vices and access to so many kids around here. Sobezuk. who graduated from KCI in 1982, said he took a renewed interest in his alma mater when the school was on the chopping block and being considered for closing in 2003, "That got a lot of reaction from KCI grads. 1 know 1 didn‘t like the idea," he said. lur me, walking through these halls, the memories just come Hooding buck. While some things have changed, other things have remained the same." KITCHENER CITY foacs 9 Panchenâ€"Porchak said quiltâ€" ing is an exciting and growâ€" ing art and quilters now come from the entire spec trum of society. "Almost everything about quilting today may come as a surprise to the uninituat ed." she said. "The variety, range and imagination involved in producing quilts creativity Festiv Panchen ing is an ing art . come fro trum of s he 10th annual Waterâ€" I loo County & Area Quilt Festival is hapâ€" pening now until May 29. Spread out between 30 different venues in nine difâ€" ferent cities and attracting over 35,000 visitors, this quilt festival is the biggest of its kind in Canada. tion of form. a heritag innovat creativil the event. Having a background in radio, he agreed to take care Steve Sobczuk, a member of the KCl 150th anniversary reunion weekend planning committee, shows off the clay sculpture used to create a bronze statue of William Lyon Mackenzie King that will be unveiled this Friday out front of the school. The N 583 Kiun St N WATERLOO By Jennieer Hownen For The Chronicle of stival director e festival is f a unique a medium ge and trac ition and 21 rector Ambe hak said quilt ing and grow quilters nov e entire spec Emc nyuer is a celebraâ€" ie visual art m that links adition with 21stâ€"century is unlimite of publicizing the event Whether cated artisan novice wan more, this q something fo When asked what makes KCI so special. he respondâ€" EWS ‘st exhibition is Waterloo at the Club. you are a ded . a collector or ANDREA BanE+ POTC detailed variety nd tradiuonal colourtul rand bar iles from 1. Quebec. places in di There is a place for everyâ€" one in society. Bach square tells a story about a particular person or place and together the 263 squares tell the storv of Canada. The quilt is a colour tapestry comprised of 263 blocks handmade by culturâ€" al groups from across Canaâ€" da. Since 1998, hundreds of people from Victoria to Newfoundland to the Arctic One of the most popular pieces in the festival is on display at the Granite Club. It is the 120â€"foot art proâ€" ject entitled The Quilt of Belonging. Circle have participated in the making of the quilt. It represents Canada‘s mosaic culture and how those people who come to Canada are free to keep their own culture bed coverings. miniatures and even quilted wearables are on display. "My first year here, the school was celebrating its 125th anniversary, so I tried to get involved in a few things," he said. "When I saw the thousands of people who came to the reunion, speaking so highly of the "Sure, the school had its athletic traditions. But it was equally supportive of its school government, the orchestra, and all of the other groups." That allâ€"encompassing support is one of the main reasons teacher Gary Howell has stayed at the school for 25 vears. "There‘s a place for just about everybody at this school," he added. "It wasn‘t cliquey at all. ed with a nostalgic smile "KCTS a real melting pot," he said. "We had students who were some of the comâ€" munity‘s most recent arrivals from around the world, as well as students whose families have been in this area for generations. "The cultural diversity here was just amazing, and it‘s only grown in the 25 years since I‘ve been here. Matenials used to create 565 King St. N. @ Northfield in GTO Gas Bar 3 www.qtwireless.ca 880+1477 Admission to the World Piece Exhibit is $12 The Granite Club is locat ed at 99 Seagram Dr.. in Waterloo Other festival activities in Waterloo _ include the Ontario Juried Quilt Show at the University of Waterloo Art Gallery, located at 263 Phillip St., Waterloo, and the Canadian Quilters Associaâ€" tion‘s annual conference being held at Wilfrid Laurier University. Waterloo County is the quilt capital of Canada and the festival has been shown to have an economic impact of between $5.1 and $11.4 million annually. The Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival has been voted one of the top 50 festi vals in Ontario for five con secutive vears each block include beaded caribou hides, Scottish tarâ€" tan, gold embroidered silk and 100â€"yearâ€"old homespun linens. The weekend wrap up with a closing assembly and talent show at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. For a complete list of events, times and locations, visit www.keil50th.ca. That night, socials will be set up all over the city for the different decades of graduates. The fun will continue Saturday with tours of the school, games, a golf tourâ€" nament and dinners. Immediately following the assembly, a bronze sculpture of KCI grad and Canada‘s longest serving prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. will be unveiled on the front lawn. "KCI really is a school that cares." The reunion weekend will kick off this Friday at 2 p.m. with an opening assembly in the school‘s auditorium. school and singing the school song, 1 could teel the tears coming down my cheeks. I‘ve been here ever since. â€"*~ TELUVS PUS Hucaterry Mike & Data Bring in tis ad & receive a FREE HEADSET 1$20 00 values