Over two years in the making and through the challenges of the global pandemic, on June 2nd, 2022, 44 members of the University of Toronto’s KPE Class of 1972 gathered at the Beacon Hall Golf Club for an unforgettable 50-year anniversary reunion.
The Class of 72 has a longstanding tradition of community, reconnecting every five years for reunions, with some members meeting more frequently for gatherings throughout the year. The Class of 72’s exceptional efforts to stay in touch and create memorable experiences have kept their vibrant alumni community alive, and this latest 50-year anniversary reunion is no exception.
Speaking to two members of the Class of 72, Mrs. Susan Whiteside (BPHE 1972) and Mrs. Angela Papworth (BPHE 1972), one can get a sense of the deep level of friendship and camaraderie that began during their time at KPE and has continued to this day. Both Mrs. Whiteside and Mrs. Papworth shared fond memories of their class’ team spirit; taking extra notes for classmates that missed lectures due to Varsity games and sharing resources during group projects and sporting activities.
This team mindset has continued into the planning of this latest reunion. Determined to connect with as many members of their class as possible, the event planning committee spent countless hours to find 77 of their 101 graduating classmates. The committee worked hard on creating specialized “Catching Up” profiles for the reunion - booklets made up of personal write-ups from each attendee that would capture a favourite memory from their student years, their activities after graduation, and what they are up to today.
Personal additions such as this, along with other group efforts like customized KPE Class of 72 hats, KPE Class of 72 cupcakes, extremely generous contributions to their Raffle and Draw, and a KPE Class of 72 trivia game made the event all the more special. The Class of 72 also received their Chancellor’s medals at the reunion to commemorate 50 years of community and friendship.
A lasting contribution of the Class of 72 from this reunion was their generous fundraising in support of the Kirk A.W. Wipper Award. This award is presented to a student who demonstrates “enthusiastic involvement in the Outdoor Projects, leadership, willingness to help others and a concern for the natural environment.” This award resonated with members of the Class of 72 not only for its incredible support to a student pursuing outdoor physical education, but for their personal connection to Mr. Wipper himself. Mrs. Whiteside and Mrs. Papworth shared that a common favourite KPE memory featured in the “Catching Up” profiles was the Class of 72’s fourth year trip with Mr. Wipper to Camp Kandalore. They also shared the positive impact Mr. Wipper had on students as a caring mentor who went above and beyond to support students at KPE.
At the close of the KPE Class of 72’s 50-year anniversary reunion, members of the event planning committee left a signup sheet for their 2027 event that was quickly and enthusiastically filled. This special group of alumni’s incredible bond has not only created a wonderful tradition of reconnecting, but has supported KPE students through their tremendous fundraising efforts for the Kirk A.W. Wipper Award. It is a great pleasure for the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education to celebrate the incredible Class of 1972.