Valerie Allen: A Life Rooted in Guelph and the Spirit of Reunion

For Valerie Allen, Alumni Weekend isn’t just a date on the calendar. It’s a joyful tradition that spans generations, friendships, and decades of memories. As she helps organize the 50th reunion of FACS ’75 for Alumni Weekend 2025 (AW25), Valerie brings with her a deep sense of pride and connection to the University of Guelph, a place she has called home in more ways than one.

Valerie’s history with U of G began long before her first class. “I have had a connection with the University of Guelph since I was a year old,” she recalls. Her father, Walter (Wally) Allen, was an OAC' 49 grad who brought baby Valerie along to his five-year reunion. “I attended several other reunions until I was a teenager and have wonderful memories of Alumni Weekend,” she says. So, when it came time to choose a university, Valerie felt the pull of the campus life and community she had known since childhood. “I couldn’t imagine going to university anywhere else.”

 

Reunion traditions continue to run deep in Valerie’s family. Her husband, Bob Creedy, is a triple Guelph grad, and their daughter, Amy, also completed her BA at Guelph. That strong Guelph lineage adds even more meaning to this milestone celebration.

Valerie is especially excited for AW25 because of the opportunity to reconnect. “Renewing friendships with my FACS ’75 friends and classmates and finding out what they have been doing since our last reunion,” she says. A chance encounter in Guelph with her old classmate, Barb Holmes, formerly Barb Lovett, sparked the idea to organize the reunion. Together, they reached out to Alumni Affairs to begin planning what promises to be a very special weekend.

Over the years, Valerie has built a rich career that is closely tied to the university. After graduating, she worked as a Food Consultant for Agriculture Canada and then completed her MSc at the University of Manitoba. In 1985, she returned to U of G to teach Introductory Foods, a role she embraced with passion. She later became an Undergraduate Academic Advisor in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, balancing her love for teaching with mentorship. She retired in 2015 after 30 fulfilling years on campus, but her connection to the university remains strong.

“I live in Guelph, so staying connected with the University has been easy,” she shares. From walking in the Arboretum every Wednesday to attending lectures and events, Valerie continues to be an active part of the U of G community and a proud #GuelphGrad.

Looking ahead to AW25, Valerie is especially eager to relive some of the moments that made student life so memorable. “Late-night chats and study sessions in residence, cheering for the Gryphons at Homecoming, the MAC-FACS Formal, and concerts in the Phys Ed Building, like Lighthouse and the Stampeders, really stand out,” she recalls. “I loved going to the College Royal Ball or Conversat, and grabbing a Danish in the coffee shop after an early morning class.”

For Valerie, reunions are not just about looking back, but also about catching up. “My favourite part of past reunions has always been reconnecting with old friends and learning what’s new in their lives.”

Her advice to first-time attendees of Alumni Weekend is simple. “Attend as many events as you can, take the time to walk around campus to see what has changed, and have your photo taken with the Gryphon statue.”

As she looks forward to AW25, Valerie invites her classmates and all alumni to return to Guelph, celebrate their shared past, and create new memories that will last for years to come.