Upper Canada College

Upper Canada College (UCC) is an all-male elementary and secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, the oldest independent school in the province, and the third oldest school in Canada. It is widely considered to be the leading school in Canada. It has educated many of the country's elite, powerful and wealthy and declares its goal as being a "private school with a public purpose."http://www.ucc.on.ca/Admissions/about.htm

History

The College was founded in 1829 by then-Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada Sir John Colborne (later Lord Seaton). Teaching at the College began in 1830. The school was founded in the hopes it would serve as a feeder school to the newly founded King's College (later the University of Toronto), and was modelled on the great public schools of Britain, most notably Eton College. The school was closely associated with the colonial establishment at this time.

Related Topics:
1829 - John Colborne - 1830 - University of Toronto - Eton College

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UCC's student militia assisted Sir Francis Bond Head's Family Compact government in suppressing the pro-democracy William Lyon Mackenzie Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. They were awarded Battle Colours by the monarch - one of only two schools in North America to be given this honour.

Related Topics:
Francis Bond Head - Family Compact - William Lyon Mackenzie - Upper Canada Rebellion - 1837

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The College initially shared facilities with the Royal Grammar School (now Jarvis Collegiate Institute). Its first permanent buildings stood on Russell Square, on land that is now bounded by King, Simcoe, Adelaide and John Streets in downtown Toronto. After rapid industrial growth in the area, UCC moved to its current site, the Deer Park campus, 200 Lonsdale Road at Avenue Road in Forest Hill.

Related Topics:
Jarvis Collegiate Institute - Forest Hill

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The world's first official lacrosse game occurred in 1867 on the grounds of UCC.

Related Topics:
Lacrosse - 1867

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1902 saw the foundation of preparatory school seperate from the Upper School, housed in its own buildings at the south edge of the Deer Park campus.

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Nearly 600 graduates perished during both the First World War and the Second World War. According to historian Jack Granatstein, UCC graduates accounted for more than 30% of Canadian generals during the Second World War, including General Harry Crerar, Commander in Chief of the Canadian Army, and Major-General Bruce Matthews, Commander of the 2nd Canadian Division and later Chairman of the College's Board of Governors.

Related Topics:
First World War - Second World War - Jack Granatstein - 2nd Canadian Division

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During the Second World War, the school accepted Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe such as Peter C. Newman. This was the first time the school's student population included students from an ethnic or religious minority group - a change from the traditional Anglo-Saxon background of the school's student population.

Related Topics:
Jewish - Peter C. Newman

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