In 1987, the graduates of 1962 undertook preparations for their 25th class reunion. In the 25 years that had passed since they had attended Steveston High, significant changes had occurred to our public educational system and significant challenges faced educators and students in the future. Several Steveston graduates of the class of 1962 felt they should take action to aid Steveston's graduates and teachers prepare successfully tackle the challenges of the coming decades. To this end, under the leadership of Dr. K. Miki, Mr. Robert Carkner, Mrs. Patsy Kikegawa (Hayashi), and Dr. Bill Ross among many others, the Steveston High School Alumni Association was born.

    The Alumni Association is an incorporated society registered as a charity with Revenue Canada. Ours was the first alumni association affiliated with a public school in Canada and has since been widely emulated throughout B.C. and the rest of the country.     Through the past eighteen years and as a result of the work of several dedicated alumni we have realized some significant accomplishments. Through various fund raising projects, we have raised in excess of $175,000.00 and from Alumni Association Memberships we have raised an additional $36,000.00 to form our long-term scholarship fund. These dollars have been used for such things as providing new weight room equipment for the Physical Education department, video and sound equipment for the Tech Ed department, computer hardware for the Library and school computer network, annual sponsorship for the Drama department theatre productions, tools and equipment for the Woodworking shop and much, much more. Most importantly we have been able to fund over $76,000.00 in scholarships to deserving students to help them with the cost of post secondary education.

    Some of our other projects have included the financial sponsorship of Guillermo Perez, a remarkable student from Guatemala who studied at Steveston High for one year in 1994 and 1995, the establishment of a $5000.00 Global Education fund in the name of former Principal Bob Carkner, sponsorship of the richest essay contest in Canada on the topic of Northwest Coast Indian Culture, hosting a space science seminar at the school attended by former student and Canadian Astronaut, Bjarni Tryggvason, establishment of the Dr. Bill Ross Master Teaching Award, donation of Alumni Wall to the school with the assistance of Industrial Education teacher Mr. Kelly Cook, providing reunion assistance for several grad classes and much more.

Bob Carkner: In Memoriam

Sadly, long serving Richmond School District Administrator and former Hugh Boyd, London Junior Secondary, Richmond High, and of course, Steveston High Principal, Bob Carkner passed away on August 2nd, 2009.

Bob was a warm-hearted and inspirational person and a beloved principal, by both students and staff. He was a noted humanitarian and long time Richmond resident and his own children also graduated from Steveston High.

A "celebration of life" is currently being planned by the family, and the date and time is tentatively set for August 18th, 2009 at 7 pm at Steveston-London Secondary School.

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