Hi Jim. I remember camping across the lake from the school. It was an arm that came out over the lake and had a pebble beach where we camped over-night making a fire and hanging out. A great week-end escape from school life. Awesome experience! photos late 1960s

About the beach....

Verne,

At this time the beach at Lejac is totally unrecognizable, It is all over grown with huge cottonwoods and alders. One would have a hard time even getting to the water to enjoy a swim at that site right now.

In regards to the sandy beach at Lejac that was student made. When I was there I figured if you can't take the boys to the beach bring the beach to the boys. So every other day after school was done for the day I would send 5 or 6 boys off with Bill Leslie, our bus driver, in the 1 ton dump truck to the town site of Fraser Lake to hand load by shovel sand from the side of the road. After they had hauled about 25 or 30 loads of sand we had our beach.

We developed a real fun place to swim, have a wiener roast and just sit to soak in the sun. We also built a good dock with a break water. May, June and September were great months to enjoy the lake. I remember the senior boys running down to the lake in their pajamas for a quick dip before going to bed. In the late sixties the senior boys would go out in one of the boats in pairs to try their luck at fishing for rainbow trout or lake trout (char). The lake was well used and enjoyed by all the students at Lejac it was a real blessing. We also used the lake in the wintertime as a skating rink and as a place to hike. It was over to a 2 mile hike to the north side of the lake. We had many a picnic on the north shore. J

FUN IN THE SUN.....

These photos are from about 1962 with the boys on the beach below the school.

TWO MORE LAKE PHOTOS....

I believe that might be Stuart Joseph of Portage and Ron Solonas of McLeod Lake in the top photo sitting on rocks in the water below Lejac school. And in the bottom photo a plane rests on the water. Planes often landing at Lejac at the docks coming in from other distant locations sometimes bringing visitors or the priest.

AT THE BEACH....

Fun times at the lake was a brief escape from school life for students and supervisors alike at Lejac residential school. photos early 1960s

SPORTS DAY AT THE SCHOOL....

Physical fitness was an important part of life at residential school. Each year we had sports day in June when all the students competed. In about 1965-66 all the boys and girls in the entire school competed together in all the races. Events included high-jumping, relay, shot put and long distance to name a few. All the fields on the boys and girls' side were busy with different events taking place. photos 1961

Couple photos...

TWO MORE ARTICLES FROM ED....

Thank you once again to Ed of Algoma University in Ontario from these articles from 1953 and 1955 of Lejac.

An interesting piece of information...

Thank you Ed Sadowski for this article from May 1950 by Father Clenaghan, O.M.I. regarding students at the school. I remember Fr. Clenaghan who was also the priest at McLeod Lake back in the early 1960s. Perhaps he was transferred from Lejac to the north following this article.

Christmas at the Rec Room

In the top photo boys and girls sing Christmas carols at their annual Christmas Party in the new dining room. Then it's fun time with Santa who brings candy and toys to all the good little girls and boys. photo ca. 1968

SANTA

Here is a picture of Santa at the Christmas party in the new dining room with volunteers from Prince George who came in every year and threw a party for all the kids bringing them presents and goodies!

Christmas 1962

Some of the boys in Rec room during Christmas. Based on the way they are dressed I would say they are having a Christmas party! Having a fun time before they head home for the Christmas holidays. Students at the school typical get two weeks off from school when they went home to their parents and returned after the holidays. Some students stayed at the school over the holidays but most went home. The holidays were always so-o-o EXCITING!!

Christmas at the school....

Some of the Staff and Santa at the school. photos ca. 1963

Outside chores...

Both these photos are from October 1962 of the boys doing some work outside the school. In the top photo a couple girls stop by.

Group photos....

Here are a couple of group shots of some of the boys. In the bottom photo that is the hurling team with Brother James on the far right. photos from 1962

CHORES....

Here is a photo of one of the boys sweeping the floor in one of the supervisors' bedroom. Boys were assigned chores regularly such as sweeping and mopping floors or downstairs in the dining room. photo December 1963

READING....

I'm not entirely sure but this may be Brother Anderson. Brother Anderson used to have a room down the hallway below the Intermediate and Senior dorms on the boys' side. He was there when I first started residential school in 1963. this photo 1963

GEORGE PATRICK

One of the older boys is packing George Patrick of Stony Creek (now Saik'uz). George is just a little guy here. October 1962

BOYS...

That's Gordon Solonas of McLeod Lake in the top photo. And one of the boys is playing in a fort they made out of sod. This photo looks like it may be on the hill below the school. June 1963

THE ARCHERY CLUB

Thank you Jim for this photo.

AND EVERYONE GOT A PRESENT....

XMAS GIRLS...

I don't know who this girl is but she's getting a present and sweets from Santa at a Lejac Christmas party from 1962.

Here is a nice photo of some of the Staff and some of the volunteers from the Lions Club. These are the folks that brought joy to our school every Xmas!

XMAS BOYS

These are boys from Junior Dorm all smiling and in a wonderful Christmas mood. Every year the Staff and supervisors put on a Xmas party just for the kids! And the Lions Club from Prince George brought them presents and bags of candy which the kids just loved! Loved that Xmas spirit!

Boys at work....

Here, some of the boys are digging something, maybe behind the workshop? Boys in Seniors and Intermediates were often assigned chores by their supervisor after school or on weekends.

Junior boys

These Junior boys are Stuart Joseph of Portage, Oliver Prince of Necoslie and Robin Pierre of Tachie. And in the front George Patrick of Stony Creek. The boys are in their pajamas and likely are getting ready for bed. January 1963

Another one of boys in Rec Room....