Throwback Thursday (Last of 25/26) – Mini Class of 1988

Hey Minis!

How is everyone’s month going? Hopefully you’re all rolling on as usual. It’s hard to believe that February is almost over already. The smallest month of 2026 is waving goodbye, and with it, the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, regardless of some somber results for Canada, have come to an end. Of course, such endings imply new beginnings. In just a few days, it will be March, the first month of a new season, and spring break will then be just around the corner. In your life, too, new experiences may be introducing themselves as the last days of winter pass on. Unfortunately, your weekly Throwback Thursdays will not be with you in the spring, as this is our fifth and final Throwback post of the 25/26 school year. What do you say we finish off our five-week run with one last trip back to 20th century Mini life?

By the late 1980s, the world was big, bold, and rapidly changing, and Vancouver was no exception. In '86, we were the hosts of Expo 86, bringing in a wave of economic growth for the city. Big shopping malls became even bigger and better, proving the most popular hangout spots of the era. In them, teens were blasting pop anthems from artists like Madonna and George Michael on their Walkmans. When this picture was taken in 1988, the city was still grooving to those beats.

Globally, '88 was a time of many major shifts. The Cold War was getting some attention as leaders like Gorbachev introduced reforms in the Soviet Union. At the same time, technology was slowly creeping into everyone’s way of life (though most students were still doing their assignments on typewriters, not laptops). As the final decade of the century approached, you can imagine the kind of brave anticipation felt by high schoolers of the time.

In this picture of the class of 1988, 30 young mini students seem to have been hanging out at Jericho beach, a place we still gather each year for mini beach days. In fact, they have lined up around a log that looks like it could still be at that same spot almost 40 years later. It’s crazy to think how much Vancouver has changed since the 80’s, yet something as simple as a beach can remain the exact same. Our Mini traditions have been pretty consistent over the years, and it shows in this class photo. Maybe in another 40 years, people will look back on a picture of us on beach day and think, "Wow, so much has changed since then, but that place looks the exact same." Makes you wonder.

There is something special about this photo. In a year of acid-washed denim, high-waisted "mom" jeans, bright colours, and stripes, each student has clearly kept up with the latest trends, letting a bit of personality shine through. It's funny how you can see that they're all doing their best to smile, but it's a little hard when you're staring into the sun. Behind the ancient logs, the white sands, and those 30 hopeful Mini backs, there is an ocean full of blaring ships, just like those we can see today. They probably sounded the same, too. Beyond those ships, snow-capped Vancouver mountains and a blue sky; a truly timeless view, captured with the Mini Class of '88 in the peak of their youth. All these years later, do you think any of these 30 students still visit this spot on Jericho beach, holding onto their memories from the Mini? Or perhaps they're reminiscing about this day while sitting in some faraway place. Regardless of where they are now, these Throwback posts will be here for them to find - overexposed charm and all. For us, all they do is make us wonder.

That’s all for this Thursday, Minis! As mentioned before, this is the last Throwback Thursday until we resume next year, but don’t worry - there will be plenty of other posts for you to read in the meantime. See you soon!

Your editors,
Haris, Ella, Sophie