Hundreds congregated in a Vanderhoof school gymnasium over the weekend (May 25) to celebrate with acclaimed songwriter and former student Jim Vallance as he bestowed music scholarships upon two recipients.

Shawn Inte and Hayden Teichroeb, both Grade 12 students at Nechako Valley Secondary School (NVSS), received scholarships of $1,000 and $500 respectively.

The event marked the culmination of extensive planning, initiated when Vallance announced, in February this year, his intention to establish a music scholarship at his alma mater and donate his fourth Juno award to the school.

According to organizer Wayne Doersken, the Jim Vallance Scholarship and Juno Night aims to recognize and support the efforts of budding musicians and scholars from NVSS.

Amid the festivities, the 71-year-old Vallance, renowned for hits such as 鈥淪ummer of 69,鈥� which he co-wrote with Bryan Adams and drew inspiration from his time in Vanderhoof during his NVSS days, joined his former high school bandmates who called themselves 4Most back in the 60s on stage.

Vallance currently resides in London, U.K., but he went to high school at NVSS after his family relocated to Vanderhoof in 1964.

Reflecting on the reunion, Doersken, himself a former band member, noted the significance of the occasion, recalling that their last performance together occurred 57 years prior, 鈥渙n Friday the 13th, January, 1967.鈥�

Teichroeb was brought in to stand in for the band鈥檚 absent guitarist (who was unwell the evening), and was later delighted when Vallance signed his instrument.

The evening also featured a performance by the band Nechako Valley Musicians from Vanderhoof that also included Vanderhoof Mayor Kevin Moutray. The evening was hosted by former local radio presenter Tom Bulmer, who had previously interviewed Vallance when Adams released 鈥淪ummer of 69鈥� on his fourth album Reckless.

Bulmer highlighted Vallance鈥檚 heartfelt speech, in which he expressed his motivation for supporting NVSS, attributing his own musical journey to the school and its gymnasium.

鈥淗e [Vallance] said the reason he was doing this was because he got his love of music and start at it at that high school and in the very gymnasium we were at and he wants others to be able to appreciate music and appreciate the fact that there is a way to go on in life,鈥� Bulmer added.

Vallance, in his address, also urged young aspiring musicians to persevere in their pursuits of musical education and careers.

NVSS will proudly display Vallance鈥檚 Juno award and other memorabilia.

Following the event, Vallance travelled to Vancouver where he was inducted into BC Entertainment鈥檚 Hall of Fame on May 26. His star was unveiled on the famed StarWalk on Granville Street.

With a career spanning five decades, Vallance has collaborated with music legends such as Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, and Bryan Adams, crafting timeless hits such as 鈥淪ummer of 69鈥� and 鈥淐uts Like a Knife.鈥�

His contributions also extend to acclaimed Broadway and West End musicals such as 鈥淧retty Woman.鈥�

Vallance has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Order of Canada and also won numerous awards besides his Juno including SOCAN, BMI, and ASCAP.