About the THAA

Timmins High & Vocational, the first high school of the Porcupine, was organized in 1923 with 60 pupils attending. The school building on Preston Street was ready for classes in September, 1924. Further additions were made as the population increased until 1980, when a new school was constructed at its present location at 451 Theriault Boulevard. A fully composite school, today Timmins High offers a wide variety of programs, services and activities for approximately 700 students.

The TH&VS Alumni Association is a non-profit chartiable organization made up of former TH&VS students and staff.

Mission Statement

The TH&VS Alumni Association is a charitable organization committed to advancing education through the provision of scholarships, teaching aids and equipment and by sponsoring educational programs at Timmins High & Vocational School.

What Do We Do?

The Alumni Association helps keep the connection to TH&VS alive by:

  • -Producing an annual newsletter.
  • -Maintaining a website for TH&VS alumni (www.thvsalumni.ca)
  • -Supporting school reunions.

The Association also helps Timmins High & Vocational School and its students by:

  • -Providing approximately $21,400 in scholarships and bursaries annually.
  • -Providing funds for special projects such as upgrading audiovisual equipment in the theatre and in the classrooms.

Donate to the TH&VS Alumni Assoication today.

Who Are We?

The Timmins High & Vocational School Alumni Association is a charitable organization that was established in 1999 by a group of interested and active alumni and former staff members of TH&VS. Following a most successful TH&VS Reunion in August 2000, the organizing committee directed all of the net profits to the Alumni Association to manage.

The group is responsible for the growth and income disbursement of the funds received yearly by the Alumni Association. With input from the staff and administration, the collective mission of the association is to attract and maximize private funding support for a wide range of needs of the students and the school.

Individuals currently on the Board of Directors include:

Timmins High & Vocational School



Our Board Members

Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor attended TH&VS for his entire 5-year high school career and graduated in 1997 (there was grade 13 then). After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Automotive Marketing and Business at Northwood University, he returned to Timmins to become Owner/General Manager of Timmins Honda. Ryan, a local business person and father of 2, strongly believes in giving back to the community. He’s involved in fundraising activities for local organizations and has served on numerous boards including The Timmins and District Hospital Foundation as director and treasurer (present) and as a former director and Chair of the Kamiskotia Snow Resort.

Lindsay Verdu

Lindsay Verdu (Parisi) is a proud member of the graduating class of 2002. Having completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto in 2006 and obtaining her CPA designation in 2008, she worked in southern Ontario for a few years eventually deciding to return to Timmins in 2010 to follow in her parents footsteps at a local accounting firm. In 2015 she became a partner of the firm which is now known as MNP LLP. She and her husband Marcus, also a graduate and TH&VS Blues alumni (and die-hard fan), have three children.

Brian Jones

Brian Jones is a life-long resident of Timmins, returning in 1982 after earning a Bachelor of Commerce and attaining his Chartered Accountant designation. He and his wife Debbie (Monahan) have 3 grown children.

Aside from his role as an enthusiastic grandfather, retirement activities include cottaging at Kenogamissi Lake, performing in the Timmins All-Star Big Band and other musical projects, RV travel and photography, as well as an active role in the Timmins Arts and Culture Scene.

Ross Clausi

Ross Clausi attended TH&VS in the 1950’s and returned after university to join the history department of TH&VS in 1965. His wife Peggy, also attended TH&VS, graduating in 1958. Ross has 4 sons including 2 TH grads and 8 grandchildren.

He was a founding member of the TH&VS Alumni Association, recognizing a need for celebrating the traditions of TH&VS in a concrete and practical way. Ross was a key organizer for the 1980 Homecoming Reunion and Homecoming 2000.

Barb Reid (Baleck)

Barb Reid (Baleck) attended TH&VS and was very active in extracurricular activities becoming Head Girl in 1972- 73. She married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Reid. Currently she is semi-retired as a Nurse Practitioner. Barb goes out for dinner regularly with nine of her former TH&VS classmates.

In addition to being a doting Nana to 3 beautiful grandchildren, most months she is knocking off travel destinations from her Bucket List (Russia, Peru, Antarctica, etc). Her three sons all attended TH&VS, two choosing careers in teaching and the other following in his late father’s footsteps, as a tradesman in masonry.

Lynne Ferrari (Stonehouse)

Lynne Ferrari (Stonehouse) was a member of the 1973 graduating class at TH&VS where she had been extensively involved in extracurricular activities. Her TH&VS peer group of nine including Monica Pickens, Glenda Laine, Mary Priest, Barb Baleck, Bonnie Wilson, Roslyn Forsyth and Sue Sangster, have continued to be a very close over the years.

She has been a member of the TH&VS Parents’ Council for 8 years. She and her husband, Louis Ferrari, have 2 children, Patricia and Tom.

Wendy Adams

Wendy Adams and her husband, Steve, moved to Timmins in 1969 to begin careers in teaching at Timmins High & Vocational School. During a long career in education, she was a teacher of Family Studies, a Vice Principal and Principal of TH&VS.

When Wendy retired in June 2005, she joined the Timmins High Alumni Association Board. Steve and Wendy relocated to Stittsville, ON in 2014. Wendy and Steve have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Fran Stefanic (Richard)

Fran Stefanic (Richard) is a proud TH&VS graduate (2003) who enjoyed every second of high school. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary and obtaining a Law Degree from the University of Western Ontario, she moved back to Timmins, to begin her legal career with Evans, Bragagnolo & Sullivan.

Fran and her husband, Brett Stefanic, also a TH&VS graduate, have two young children, Jack and Kate.

Dr. Mike Popovic

Dr. Mike Popovic returned to his hometown community after completing degrees at McMaster University, Hamilton and at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto.  He established the Timmins Chiropractic Clinic on Pine Street in 2010.

A proud TH grad, Mike gives back to the community by volunteering with a hockey team and he enjoys participating in triathlon events. Mike and his wife have a 2-year old daughter and another baby on the way, so they will be a busy young family.

Owen Rigg

Owen Rigg is a 2005 TH&VS graduate. After attending Long Island University on a NCAA Athletic Scholarship, he returned to Timmins in 2009. Owen is employed by Ministry of Mines and Golf Ontario. Owen is involved on numerous boards of directors in the community and region including the Northern Golf Association, the South Porcupine Arena Association and the Timmins U18 Hockey League. In his free time, he competes golf competitions across the province. During the winter, he represents the Northern Ontario Hockey Association as the District One Referee-in-Chief for District One. 

Memories of TH&VS
Great memories of his TH&VS Days include the Timmins High Hockey Team and Golf Team. According to Owen, TH&VS had a huge influence on him, as he ended up on scholarship in the USA, having his education costs covered. He credits his success to the teachers and coaches who worked with him to achieve that goal. Owen believes that TH&VS played a significant role in his development, and so it is important for him to see that young people from TH&VS have similar experiences and opportunities that he received. For him, community service and volunteerism are important in making such experiences available for others. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the TH&VS Alumni Board to help achieve that.