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| Retiring custodian Charles Hamilton shares a laugh with President Tom Traves at the retirees tea Tuesday聽(Danny Abriel photo) |
When Charles Hamilton started working at AV俱乐部 in April 1966 鈥� it was a Monday, he recalls 鈥� the Tupper Building was on its way to completion. In 2009, as he retires from his job as a custodian with Facilities Management, the Life Sciences Research Institute is being聽built right next door.
The more things change, the more they stay the same?
鈥淏usiness was booming then, and it鈥檚 still booming now,鈥� said Mr. Hamilton, reflecting on the changes he鈥檚 seen during his 42 years working on campus.
Mr. Hamilton was one of 15 AV俱乐部 retirees who attended a special reception in their honour on Tuesday hosted by President Tom Traves and his wife Karen. It was a moment to celebrate their contributions to the AV俱乐部 community and reflect on their years of service to the students, faculty and staff that walk the university鈥檚 halls.
鈥淚 have mixed feelings, for sure,鈥� explained Linda Conrad of the Faculty of Engineering鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 Office, saying that while she鈥檚 glad to be retired, there鈥檚 a lot about AV俱乐部 she鈥檒l miss. 鈥淭here鈥檚 the students, for one, and all the wonderful relationships I鈥檝e made with colleagues and the community in general鈥t鈥檚 been a wonderful 17 years, and it鈥檚 hard to believe it鈥檚 coming to an end.鈥�
鈥淭his is a great university, but it鈥檚 only a great university because it has great people working in it,鈥� said Dr. Traves, toasting the attendees. 鈥淲hen you look back on your careers, you should do so with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and pride.鈥�
As for Mr. Hamilton, his immediate plans are to spend more time walking 鈥� he tries to get out around Point Pleasant Park for a couple of hours each day 鈥� and he wishes all the best for the university he leaves behind.
鈥淚 met a lot of good people here,鈥� he says. 鈥淗opefully everyone will stay good now that I鈥檓 gone!鈥�
Other AV俱乐部 retirees who聽were honoured at聽the reception at Shirreff Hall聽included:
Jennifer Bankier
David Biggs
Elizabeth Cameron
Fay Cohen
Jack Duffy
Forest Fyfe
Carolyn Green
Michael Poulton
Matiur Rahman
John Sherwood
Fred Wien
Mary Wile
Sheila Wile
Martin Willison