Jarvis is located on Jarvis Street. Founded in 1807 it is the second oldest high school in Ontario after the Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and the oldest high school in Toronto.
Jarvis Collegiate is historically significant as the first public secondary school in Toronto. In fact, it was founded, and had a rather brief life, as a private school, beginning in 1797. However, in 1807 the government of Ontario, then known as the British colony of Upper Canada, took over the school and made it part of a network of eight new, public "grammar schools" (secondary schools), one for each of the eight districts of Upper Canada. Jarvis was the grammar school for the Home District, an area covering much of the modern GTA. Its first name was the Home District Grammar School.
These were the early days of Toronto, when the first parliament buildings were established and the first church and the first jail were constructed. In fact, it was only fourteen years earlier that Governor John Grave Simcoe arrived at the unspoiled location on Lake Ontario to lay out the design of the new town he named York.
In its early years Jarvis served only the wealthy families of York.
After a shaky start in the period 1807-1811 - enrolment started at five, rose to twenty, then fell to four - the school gained momentum in 1812 when the redoubtable John Strachan took over as headmaster. In 1839, Strachan became the first Anglican bishop of Toronto, living grandly in a home known as the "Palace" and signing his name (following the "first name / diocese" format customary for Anglican bishops) "John Toronto". He also founded Trinity College.
The original 1807 school building was a shed attached to the headmaster's house. Strachan raised funds for a new two-storey building, completed in 1816 on College Square, a six-acre lot north of St. James' Cathedral, bounded by Richmond, Adelaide, Church and Jarvis Streets. In 1825 the school was renamed the Royal Grammar School. Later the name was changed to Toronto High School. In 1829 it moved to the corner of Jarvis and Lombard Streets. When Upper Canada College was founded in 1829 it shared a building with the Grammar School and for several years the two organizations were essentially unified. UCC eventually moved to its own facilities.
By 1864 the three rooms of the schoolhouse were inadequate for the 150 students, so a new building was constructed on Dalhousie Street, just north of Gould Street, near present-day Ryerson University. In the following decade, once again growing enrolment necessitated a new building. As construction got under way during 1870-1871, classes were held in a vacant insane asylum at Queen's Park, where the east wing of the legislative buildings are located today.
In 1871 the new building opened at 361 Jarvis Street, just south of College Street, directly in front of Allan Gardens. In 1873 Parkdale Collegiate Institute, a second high school, was established in Toronto, precipitating yet another name change, this time from Toronto High School to Jarvis Street High School. The school was given its current name, Jarvis Collegiate Institute, in 1890. In 1924 it moved to its current building.
Jarvis Collegiate celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007.
Jarvis Jargon
The Jarvis Jargon is the school's official newspaper, whose slogan is: "For the students, by the students".
Simon Turnbull, First Prize, Critical writing, music
Dan Barnes, Second Prize, Sports Writing, Reporting
Alexandra Kimball, Second Prize, Feature writing
Anna Cohen, Third Prize, Sports writing, feature writing
Nitai Bessette, Third Prize, Layout and design
1996
Alexandra Kimball, Best Column/Opinion Writing, The Other Side of the Street
Jeremiah Tobias, Best Feature Writing, Best Critical Writing: T.V., Film, Video
Dan Barnes, Trainspotting
Clubs & Other Groups
Student Council (07/08)
Alice Meng
Lisa Kim
Prachy Mohan
Tanya Akhtar
Angela Sun
Toby Tang (abdicated)
Student Concil (08/09)
Sami Osman
Jennifer Cheung
Peter Trung
Claudianna Sarjue
Doreen To
Tom Nguyen
Sr. Boys Basketball Team (2005-2006)
Jacob Gibson (pg,sg,sf)
Kris Oak (cr)
Jermain (pg)
Ryan T (pf)
Justin Holmes (sg)
Darius S (cr)
Larry Ma (sg)
Awer Ater (sf)
Aaron Makarchuk (pg,sf)
Remeel Phillip (cr)
Joseph Munn (pf,cr)
Coach:Peter M
Assist Coach: Mohit D & Akeem
Bantam Boys Basketball team
Sathish Muneeswaren
Stephan James
Tony Nguyen
Krosh Krisnirajah
Nirraj Rajalingam
Azaan
TJ
Thisaan
Haidar
Hinock Tekle
Imusici Chamber Ensemble
Multicultural Club
2007-2008 Presidents:
Mr. Deb
Kelly Zhang
Snoweria Zhang
Vice Presidents:
Luis Alcantara Moreno
Charlene Liu
Treasurer:
Bonnie Huynh
Communications Director:
Vivian Chan
Sasha
Orchestra
Science Club
Senior String Ensemble
BAA & GAC
BAA (2008-2009)
President: Christian Riley Epistola
Vice President: Dartaniel Jackman
Secretary: Albert Kenny Chau
General Members:
Vikchhai Sam
Andy Tran
Daniel Tran
Daniel Z
GAC (2008-2009)
President: Janet Zhou
Vice President: Shan Le
Secretary: Simmy On
General Members:
Lynette Thomas-Woo
Victoria Bacnis
Vivienne Nguyen
Bonnie Pang
Rachel McKay
Jennifer Chew
Crystal Dinh
Annie Teng
MAGNET YEARBOOK
Editors 2007-2008: Ismam Rashid
2006-2007: Saeeda God
2005-2006: Kai Zhu
Trivia
In the episode "Birds Of Paradise" (Episode 1x15), of the show Twice In a Lifetime, the inside and outside of the Jarvis auditorium was used during filming.
In the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, there is an exterior shot of the wide entrance of the school.
The current library was the original gym for the school. The upper floors contained an indoor track for use by athletes during the winter.
If you want more information about Jarvis Collegiate because you really wish to know this school, or because you are very curious then what you can do is go to the school website.
Encyclopedia
top
