Wikipedia

York Memorial Collegiate Institute

Not to be confused with York Mills Collegiate Institute.

York Memorial Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is administered by Toronto District School Board (TDSB), de jure located at 2690 Eglinton Avenue West. Prior to 1998, the school was part of the legacy Board of Education for the City of York.

York Memorial Collegiate Institute
Permanent building, damaged by fire in May 2019
Address
Map
1700 Keele Street

Toronto
,
Ontario
,
M6M 3W5

Canada
Coordinates43°41′25″N 79°28′35″W / 43.69028°N 79.47639°W / 43.69028; -79.47639
Information
School typePublic, high school
MottoMacte Nova Virtute
(Go Forth With New Strength)
Religious affiliation(s)Non-aligned
Established1929
StatusActive, school temporarily relocated to 1700 Keele St
School boardToronto District School Board
(Board of Education for the City of York)
School districtNorth-West
Superintendent
  • Uton Robinson
  • Executive Superintendent, LC1[1]
  • Kwame Lennon
  • LN03
Area trusteeChris Tonks, Ward 6
School number6697 / 954683
PrincipalDonald Drummond[2]
Grades9–12
Enrolment1450 (2022–2023)
LanguageEnglish
AreaYork, Toronto, Ontario
Colour(s)   Red and gold
MascotMustangs
Team nameYork Memorial Mustangs
Websiteschools.tdsb.on.ca/yorkmemorial/

The school opened in 1929 at the Keele and Eglinton area in what was then the Township of York. At 1,350 students, the school is often referred to as "Memo" by its students. Its motto is Macte Nova Virtute (Go forth with new strength).

History

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From 2019 to 2022, York Memorial Collegiate was housed at the former Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy building.

In 1929, the Council of the Township of York decided to construct a high school in memory of their youth killed in World War I and purchased 9.5 acres (3.8 ha). Architect Charles Wellington Smith designed the building and the cornerstone was laid on May 6. The school was opened on September 3, 1929, to its first students. The Collegiate Gothic building with Don Valley Brick and smooth faded stone, consists of 15 classrooms, 3 science labs, an auditorium, cafeteria, two gyms, a swimming pool, and various offices. It was built at a cost of $250 000.[3][4] The school officially opened on January 30, 1930.

A World War II memorial was dedicated on February 27, 1949.[5]

Since the building was originally constructed in 1929, in 1954, an addition with six classrooms was added.[4] This is followed by the construction of seven classrooms and library in 1961, followed by fourteen classrooms and pool area conversion in 1966. The next year, in 1967, a new swimming pool was built in the site of the Centennial building, with a gym and community centre.[4] Eight rooms were converted between 1968 and 1969.[4] The last addition, in the eastern portion, was built in 1971, currently houses the cafeteria, library, and the offices of the York school board (which are currently used by the TDSB as its continuing education offices).[4]

By 1973, fire escapes were added, space in the interior was converted for lockers. Some rooms were also converted in 1988.[4]

In 1985, the building was designated as a heritage building by the York City Council.[6]

On May 6 and 7, 2019, fires started in the YMCI building, which reached six-alarm status.[7] The second fire caused sections of the roof and walls to collapse, as well as damage or destruction to the stained glass windows in the auditorium.[8] All of the students were temporarily housed in nearby George Harvey Collegiate Institute.

The school is being rebuilt using materials including brick and a stained glass window salvaged from the remnants of the current building. TDSB is projecting the completion in 2026.[9]

In December of 2022, 14 teachers refused to work citing unsafe working conditions.[10] Students subsequently staged a walkout due to the teacher shortage and safety concerns.[11]

Advanced Placement

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York Memorial has Roadmap to University with Success with Honours (RUSH) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs. The RUSH program is an enrichment program that trains students for the full AP program. AP courses are offered in a wide variety of subjects.[citation needed]

There is also a Pre-Advanced Placement program (10 English, 11 Biology, 11 Physics, 11 Chemistry) which students attend in grades 10 to 11 before taking the AP program in grade 12.

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Senior Team Leadership Directory 2022-2023" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Administration". SchoolWeb.TDSB.on.ca. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "York Memorial Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12)". Toronto District School Board. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Toronto Architectural Conservancy - TO Built = York Memorial Collegiate Institute".
  5. ^ "York Memorial Collegiate Institute > Alumni > Our Heritage".
  6. ^ "York Memorial Collegiate Institute". Architectural Conservancy Ontario
  7. ^ "Fire rages at nearly century-old York Memorial, 2nd one in 12 hours". Rogers Media. 680 News. May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Freeman, Joshua (May 8, 2019). "Firefighters remain at scene of large blaze that gutted section of York Memorial C.I." CP24 News. BellMedia. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Brown, Desmond (January 31, 2022). "Effort to rebuild historic York Memorial Collegiate Institute gets $11M from province". CBC News Toronto. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  10. ^ Draaisma, Muriel; Sasitharan, Kirthana (December 8, 2022). "Toronto high school moving in 'correct direction' after weeks of chaos, teacher says". Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "'Scared to death to go to school': York Memorial students stage mass walkout amid concerns over violence, teacher shortage". thestar.com. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
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