Ready to tour: Eastern Construction's project leaders, right, and Sean Ingram, development officer, lead the first group of alumni through the former Bora Laskin Law Library demolition site.
By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
Almost 370 alumni who graduated in years ending in ‘3’ and ‘8’ attended a variety of reunion events Oct. 25-27, 2013: brunches at the law school, dinners in downtown restaurants, kids’ activities, and for the first time, a tour of the demolition site. Photo gallery.
The Rowell Room was dusted off and cleaned up for the opening cocktail event, which included small group tours of the demolition now in progress in the former Bora Laskin Law Library. We had a myriad of colourful hard hats, and the requisite steel-toe slip-ons available of course, but some working in construction law handily brought their own.
Many were astonished to see their old hang-out stripped down to the studs.
“I think it’s amazing; it seems like just yesterday the now ‘old’ library opened,” said alumnus Peter Vitre, Class of 1993. “I was one of the first classes to be in the new space. Right now, it looks strange, but it’s going to be fantastic.”
Wendy Lee, Class of 1983, agreed.
“The facilities really do help to improve the law school. Even back when I was in school, we knew the law school facilities didn’t live up to its reputation. I envy the people coming in now, they’ll have an even greater law school.”
Lee stopped over in Toronto from visiting her daughter in New York to attend the reunion and see her classmates once again. “I really enjoyed our 25th reunion. It was the first time I came back to the law school.”
Alumnus John Fagan, Class of 1973, wouldn’t dream of missing any reunion. “I’ve come to every reunion that has been staged for my class because I have a ball. I love seeing all the old faces. I love interacting with successively younger and younger faces, which is what you can do at the cocktail reception, and I love observing the ‘golden circle’ types, from 50 years and up, and 63 and up.”
And for mother-daughter alumnae team Corinne and Rachel Sklar, this was their third time attending reunion together.
“I get to see all her wonderful classmates here, and they’re such a great group,” said Corinne Sklar, Class of 1978, “and it’s so lovely to see them again and find out how they’re doing.”
Added Rachel Sklar, Class of 1998, “And it’s very meaningful and super fun for me because my mother was a very dynamic part of my law school experience—my classmates were almost as used to being fed by my mom as I was. It’s nice to keep those relationships alive.”
Corinne and Rachel Sklar
Photos: Michelle Yee
