Though she hasn’t been given the official title, it’s likely safe to say that 100-year-old Florence Chatten is Campbellford District High School’s oldest living graduate.
And recently it was a very special day for her as she returned to the school she attended more than eight decades ago.
Chatten, a resident at Seasons Dufferin Centre in Trenton, and the facility’s Fun Manager, Adelle Vorkapic, bonded over the fact they are both graduates of the school, though Vorkapic graduated a little more recently in 2012.
Vorkapic organized a visit to the school where they met with the principal and vice-principal who presented Chatten with some thoughtful gifts.
But something even more special was to come.
Vorkapic says even though the original school that Chatten attended burned down, she was presented with a special piece of history.
“I had talked to the principal and I had told them that Florence’s last name was originally Ranney. They looked up some records and they were able to find her attendee book. So it would have been the general register. When she turned around and saw all the memorabilia and saw the book, her eyes just lit right up and you could tell she was having a great time. She even described it actually as similar to a second honeymoon.”
Vorkapic adds there is a room full of archives that school officials will be sifting through to see if there any more photos or items related to Chatten.
Chatten, who attended CDHS in the late 1930s, remembers it was a thrill to go from her tiny country school to the high school.
“Because it was a completely different atmosphere going from the tiny little country school to the big, to me, that was a big high school.”
She still remembers her first year at CDHS.
“So they had two what they called form ones, you know, instead of grades they were forms. And I was lucky, I got the top marks that first year.”
Vorkapic says it was also a special experience for her. “To see the sheer joy on Florence’s face and be part of reconnecting with our shared history was such a privilege. Opportunities like these are rare, and I feel deeply fortunate to have played a role in creating such meaningful moments.”
Chatten turns 101 April 9.
