John Oliver High School Alumni
Vancouver, British Columbia (BC)
Recent Members
| Arleen Kynaston De Grot | 1973 |
| Carmen Cohoe | 2001 |
| Ed Manthey | 1972 |
| Hans Neumann | 1975 |
| Jack Colby | 2025 |
| Jon Zamora | 1981 |
| Marlene Kemp | 1963 |
| Vern Jackson | 1968 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your John Oliver High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Jokers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Keith Maxwell
Class of 1969
Air Force, 20+ Years
Initially joined the PPCLI then transferred to the Air Force. Served in Canada, the US and Europe. Final 16 years in Belgium. Retired as a Colonel.
Class of 1969
Air Force, 20+ Years
Initially joined the PPCLI then transferred to the Air Force. Served in Canada, the US and Europe. Final 16 years in Belgium. Retired as a Colonel.
Lindy (Hansen) MacKinnon
Class of 1978
Army Reserves, 27 Years
I joined the Communication Reserves in 1977 at the Jericho Garrison in Vancouver while still attending high school at J.O. My career as a Signaler was a lot of hard work and fun combined. Being a woman in the forces definitely had its challenges, especially at the higher ranks. My training took place in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Vancouver Island, Wainwright, Alberta, Kingston, Ontario and Nova Scotia. I worked full time with the Reserves for about a year as a CF Recruiter and as a Course Officer for basic training. My military career progressed from a Private Recruit through all the non-commissioned ranks to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. I was the first female reservist to be promoted to the rank of CWO and was immediately appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 744 (Vancouver) Communication Regiment. I took a few years off following this appointment and then came back to the unit to serve a further 5 years as a Commissioned Officer at the rank of Captain. I released from the Primary Reserve in 2009. Decorations received: CD2. Awards received: Top Student Basic Training; Consistent Effort in Junior Leadership Training; 74 Comm Group Commander's Award of Excellence. I am grateful to all the people I met over the years from the different units in Canada and the USA. I'm sure they would agree with me that there really is "No Life Like It", which used to be a recruiting slogan.
Class of 1978
Army Reserves, 27 Years
I joined the Communication Reserves in 1977 at the Jericho Garrison in Vancouver while still attending high school at J.O. My career as a Signaler was a lot of hard work and fun combined. Being a woman in the forces definitely had its challenges, especially at the higher ranks. My training took place in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Vancouver Island, Wainwright, Alberta, Kingston, Ontario and Nova Scotia. I worked full time with the Reserves for about a year as a CF Recruiter and as a Course Officer for basic training. My military career progressed from a Private Recruit through all the non-commissioned ranks to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. I was the first female reservist to be promoted to the rank of CWO and was immediately appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major of 744 (Vancouver) Communication Regiment. I took a few years off following this appointment and then came back to the unit to serve a further 5 years as a Commissioned Officer at the rank of Captain. I released from the Primary Reserve in 2009. Decorations received: CD2. Awards received: Top Student Basic Training; Consistent Effort in Junior Leadership Training; 74 Comm Group Commander's Award of Excellence. I am grateful to all the people I met over the years from the different units in Canada and the USA. I'm sure they would agree with me that there really is "No Life Like It", which used to be a recruiting slogan.
Patrick Kadey
Class of 1984
Army, 20+ Years
Left Vancouver in 1985 to do basic in Cornwallis, NS. From Cornwallis it was off the the Royal Canadian Artillery Battle School in Shilo, Manitoba, and from Shilo it was off to my first duty station at CFB Gagetown, NB. After serving the "guns" for 7+ yrs, I transfered to the Logistics branch, becoming a professional driver. It was off to training at CFB Borden, ON. From Borden, it was off to my next duty station at CFB Chilliwack, BC. After spending 5+ yrs in Chilliwack, it was back to Borden for another 6 yrs, and then on to my last duty station at CFB Greenwood, NS, where I retired in 2009. I now run my own business doing property maintenance.
Class of 1984
Army, 20+ Years
Left Vancouver in 1985 to do basic in Cornwallis, NS. From Cornwallis it was off the the Royal Canadian Artillery Battle School in Shilo, Manitoba, and from Shilo it was off to my first duty station at CFB Gagetown, NB. After serving the "guns" for 7+ yrs, I transfered to the Logistics branch, becoming a professional driver. It was off to training at CFB Borden, ON. From Borden, it was off to my next duty station at CFB Chilliwack, BC. After spending 5+ yrs in Chilliwack, it was back to Borden for another 6 yrs, and then on to my last duty station at CFB Greenwood, NS, where I retired in 2009. I now run my own business doing property maintenance.
William(Bill) Weston
Class of 1952
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served in the Air Force for 37 years: France, Germany, US(Norfolk, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, Tacoma, WA), Borden, ON, St Hubert, Que, Chatham, NB, Ottawa ON, and Trenton, ON
Class of 1952
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served in the Air Force for 37 years: France, Germany, US(Norfolk, VA, Colorado Springs, CO, Tacoma, WA), Borden, ON, St Hubert, Que, Chatham, NB, Ottawa ON, and Trenton, ON
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from John Oliver High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Jokers.
School News
Reginald Louis Clarkson dies at age 86 years April 16, 2012
I am very sad to announce the passing of a great athlete, father and social activist, Reg Clarkson. Inducated into 3 spo...
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Our John Oliver High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our John Oliver High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Vancouver are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!