Senator O'Connor College School (also called SOCS, Senator O'Connor CS, Senator O'Connor, OCS, or simply Senator or O'Connor), previously known as John J. Lynch High School until 1967 is a Separate

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

in the Parkwoods neighbourhood in the

North York North York is one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of York, Old Toronto and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a popu ...

district of

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

serving grades 9 to 12 in the communities of

Wexford Wexford () is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford lies on the south side of Wexford Harbour, the estuary of the River Slaney near the southeastern corner of the island of Ireland. The town is linked to Dublin by the M11/N11 N ...

, Maryvale,

Don Mills Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting " new town" and was at the time located outside Toronto proper. In 1998, North York, including the Don Mills c ...

, and

Dorset Park Dorset Park is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the western part of the district of Scarborough. The neighbourhood is bordered by Highway 401 to the north, Midland Avenue to the east, Lawrence Avenue to the south, an ...

. The school was named after Senator

Frank O'Connor Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O'Donovan; 17 September 1903 – 10 March 1966) was an Irish author and translator. He wrote poetry (original and translations from Irish), dramatic works, memoirs, journalistic columns and features on a ...

, founder of the

Laura Secord Laura Secord ( Ingersoll; 13 September 1775 – 17 October 1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for having walked out of American-occupied territory in 1813 to warn British forces of an impending American atta ...

chocolate company. The school is part of the

Toronto Catholic District School Board The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB, known as English-language Separate District School Board No. 40 prior to 1999) is an English-language public-separate school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada, headquartered in North York. I ...

and was originally founded as John J. Lynch High School in 1963, named after the first archbishop of Toronto from 1870 to 1888,

John Joseph Lynch John Joseph Lynch (6 February 1816 – 12 May 1888) was an Irish prelate of the Catholic Church. A member of the Congregation of the Mission, he served as the third Bishop (1860-1870) and first List of Roman Catholic archbishops of Toronto, ...

. It had 1,414 students , and was ranked 266 of 738 secondary schools in the 2017-18

Fraser Institute The Fraser Institute is a libertarian-conservative Canadian public policy think tank and registered charity. The institute describes itself as independent and non-partisan. It is headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Calgary, Tor ...

School Report Card.

History

The story

Frank Patrick O'Connor was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

politician, businessman, philanthropist. He was the founder of

Laura Secord Chocolates Laura Secord s.e.c is a Canadian chocolatier, confectionery, and ice cream company. It was named after the Canadian heroine Laura Secord. In 1813, Laura Secord, pioneer wife and mother of seven children, made a dangerous 19-mile (30-km) journey on ...

and

Fanny Farmer Fanny Farmer was an American candy manufacturer and retailer. Fanny Farmer was started in Rochester, New York by Frank O'Connor in 1919, and grew to over 400 stores before being bought and consolidated. History O'Connor had previously start ...

, and the namesake behind O'Connor Drive in Toronto. He is the son of Mary Eleanor McKeown and Patrick O'Connor, O'Connor quit school at the age of 14 and started working at Canadian

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...

in Peterborough. He married Mary Ellen Hayes and moved with her to Toronto in 1912. He opened the Laura Secord Candy Store on

Yonge Street Yonge Street (; pronounced "young") is a major arterial route in the Canadian province of Ontario connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. Once the southernmost leg of provincial Hi ...

in 1913 as he expanded the store across Canada and into the United States where it was known as Fanny Farmer Candy Stores. As a Roman Catholic, he gave $500,000 in the 1930s to the

Archdiocese of Toronto The Archdiocese of Toronto ( la, Archidioecesis Torontina) is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario. Its archbishop is also the ecclesiastical provincial for the dioceses of Hamilton, London, Saint Catharines ...

under the trusteeship of Cardinal

James Charles McGuigan James Charles McGuigan (November 26, 1894 – April 8, 1974) was a Canadian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the longest-serving Archbishop of Toronto, serving for almost 37 years from 1934 to 1971. He became the first English-speaking ...

. O'Connor was appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada (french: region=CA, Sénat du Canada) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the House of Commons, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The Senate is modelled after the B ...

in 1935 by

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

William Lyon Mackenzie King William Lyon Mackenzie King (December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian statesman and politician who served as the tenth prime minister of Canada for three non-consecutive terms from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948. A Li ...

. He represented the

senatorial division Canadian Senate divisions refers to two aspects of the Senate of Canada. First, it refers to the division of Canada into four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators each, as set out in section 22 of the Constitution Act, 1867.The Constitution Act ...

of Scarborough Junction, Ontario until his death in 1939. O'Connor survived his wife, who died in 1931, and died at this estate at age 54.

The school history

Prior to the founding of Senator O'Connor College School, several high schools were established around that area after the openings of

Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute (Winston Churchill CI, WCCI, Churchill) is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in the Dorset Park neighbourhood of Scarborough, it is owned and operated by the Toronto District School ...

in Scarborough (1954),

Don Mills Collegiate Institute Don Mills Collegiate Institute (DMCI) is a high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in the Don Mills neighbourhood, it serves an ethnically diverse student population of approximately 1000. As of 2017, 67% of students speak a first languag ...

(1957) and nearby

Victoria Park Collegiate Institute Victoria Park Collegiate Institute (commonly known as Victoria Park C.I., Victoria Park, Vic Park, VP, and VPCI); formerly Victoria Park Secondary School, is a collegiate institute in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located south of York Mills R ...

(1960). In the meantime, several catholic separate schools within the Metropolitan Separate School Board (MSSB, renamed later to the Toronto Catholic District School Board) were opened such as Precious Blood Separate School in 1953 and Annunciation Separate School in 1965. Senator O'Connor College School was founded by the

Brothers of the Christian Schools french: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes , image = Signum Fidei.jpg , image_size = 175px , caption = , abbreviation = FSC , nickname = Lasallians , named_after = , formation ...

and the

Daughters of Wisdom The Daughters of Wisdom is a Catholic religious institute of women founded by Louis de Montfort and Marie Louise Trichet in 1703 to serve those in need. History In 1703, when he was temporary chaplain of the hospital of Poitiers, Louis de ...

in 1963 as ''John J. Lynch High School'', becoming the first co-educational Catholic school in the Toronto archdiocese. However, boys were taught by Christian Brothers and girls were taught on a different floor by nuns with the Daughters of Wisdom. In 1965, the second school building designed in an hexagon by Fisher Tedman Architects was erected, given the name ''Senator O’Connor College School'' with Brother Denis F.S.C. as its inaugurating principal. Starting in the 1967–68 school year, the "Senator O'Connor" name became the name for the whole school combining the Lynch and O'Connor buildings while the ninth and tenth grades were placed by the MSSB while grades 11–13 continued to be taught by their religious orders. The high school was built on land given to them by Senator

Frank Patrick O'Connor Frank Patrick O'Connor (April 9, 1885 – August 21, 1939) was a Canadian politician, businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of Laura Secord Chocolates in Canada and Fanny Farmer in the United States. He is the namesake behind O ...

, a Catholic philanthropist and founder of

, a Canadian chocolatier and ice cream company. Senator O'Connor's House and Garage, and another building, belonging to the Christian Brothers, still exist on campus, and the Christian Brothers still lived there as a Provincial Office up until 2002. In the 1970s, the Christian Brothers were an active part of school life, teaching classes, holding positions in the school administration and assisting with cafeteria monitoring. The administration of the school was turned over to lay teachers in 1973. The school used to be split up into three main structures: the main O'Connor building, the JJ Lynch building, and a later addition of a complex of portables under one roof called the "Taj" or the "Taj Mahal". There was also another area with over a half dozen portables. There used to be an indoor swimming pool connected to the house, but it was torn down sometime in the late 1980s or early 90s. The Christian Brothers' house was located in the center of the campus, and so students would pass right in front of it or around it on all sides daily. The Christian Brothers' house has been marked as a historic site by the City of Toronto and is protected as such. In 1984, when the Province of Ontario decided that Catholic secondary schools were to be fully funded, the school became publicly funded by 1987, and Senator O'Connor ceased being a private school. The school is fully operated by the MSSB. The last of the Christian Brothers staff to teach at O'Connor retired at the end of June 1990. Originally the main high school was built to hold 732 students and by the 1990s the student population almost doubled that figure. Additions to the school such as the "Taj" were made over the course of the school's history. By 1995, talks of building a new school on the property began. That project was protested by local residents until its approval sometime in the early 2000s. In 2002, the Toronto Catholic District School Board acquired the O'Connor House from the Christian Brothers. The old Lynch, O'Connor and Taj Mahal buildings were demolished and a large new modern two-storey 1020-pupil high school which opened in September 2005 is now in place. The former address of the school was 5 Avonwick Gate. The current address of the new Senator O'Connor College School is 60 Rowena Drive. The address change occurred because the entrance to the school was moved to the opposite end of the property that opens onto Rowena Drive. The new building, designed by Kearns Mancini Architects Inc., was partially built where the Lynch building previously stood as well as on the old athletic field. Senator O'Connor celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 1, 2013, with a mass and the opening ceremonies, including a presentation to Brother Domenic Viggiani, president of De La Salle College, who accepted plaques on behalf of the school's founding Christian Brothers, some of whom also attended the event.Queen, Lisa
Senator O’Connor ready to celebrate golden anniversary
- InsideToronto.com, May 29, 2013, Retrieved August 9, 2013 The guests looked at the restoration of the historic O’Connor House, which was damaged in a fire a year prior.

Timeline

*1963 - John J. Lynch High School opened its doors on 5 Avonwick Gate by the

and the

*1965 - The school was renamed from John J. Lynch to Senator O'Connor. *1966 - The boys and girls of O'Connor were taught in the same classrooms. *1967 - Grades 9 and 10 placed by the Metropolitan Separate School Board. *1973 - Lay teachers take over the school's operations. *1984 - Full funding for Catholic high schools announced by the Ontario Government for grades 11–13. *1987 - Senator O'Connor became a fully publicly funded high school. *1990 - One of the last of religious staff retired from O'Connor. *2000 - The Christian Brothers depart the O'Connor House. *2002 - The Senator O'Connor alumni association opens *2005 - New school facility for O'Connor opened at 60 Rowena Drive. *2007 - The Specialist High Skills Major program, Business begins. *2013 - Senator O'Connor celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Overview

Advanced Placement

The

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...

program continues a tradition of achievement, by providing students with the opportunity for academic enrichment. At Senator O’Connor, a select cohort of students studies at the AP (Enriched) level in Core Courses from the 9th through 12th grades. Students enter this program through an application process undertaken in Grade 8. Students in AP courses study topics in greater depth, enhancing their intellectual development. A flexible program, it can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual; students have the opportunity to participate in specific AP subjects in their fields of interest. Students are exposed to university level content and expectations, allowing them to feel more comfortable and have more confidence once they reach the academic setting of university. Writing AP

College Board The College Board is an American nonprofit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a ...

exams at the end of Grade 12 can lead to the acquisition of equivalent credits in participating universities in

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and overseas.

Extended/Immersion French

The Extended/Immersion French program is a continuation of the elementary early or middle

French Immersion French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which students who do not speak French as a first language will receive instruction in French. In most French-immersion schools, students will learn to speak French and learn most subjects s ...

program. Students who have successfully completed a minimum of ten French courses, four in Extended/Immersion French and six in other subjects taught in French (géographie, histoire and religion) will receive an Extended/Immersion French Certificate upon graduation. O'Connor students are encouraged to take advantage of outside activities, competitions and foreign exchanges. A trip to Quebec provides opportunity to practice their French Language skills.

Arts

Though not officially deemed as an Arts high school, O’Connor offers electives in the arts including Drama, Theatre Production, Visual Arts, Applied Design, Vocal and Instrumental Music, Guitar, Piano, Film, Photography, and Yearbook. The Arts department offers extra-curricular opportunities for students through various stage shows, art shows, plays, and music shows, and arts-based clubs. Some clubs include Anime Club, Mural Club, Synergy Dance Crew (competitive), Synergy Dance Club, Yearbook Club, Art Council, Music Council, Drama Council, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Choir, and Stage Crew. O’Connor is equipped with an auditorium that has approximately 230 seats, with up-to-date sound and lighting capabilities.

Administration

Principals

Vice Principals

*Laura Dimanno - served at

Don Bosco John Melchior Bosco ( it, Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco; pms, Gioann Melchior Bòsch; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator, writer and saint of the 19th century. While working ...

; now at St. Basil-the-Great (2011–present) *Rosemary Balmbra - Currently at the elementary panel as VP of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School (2010-2013) and St. Boniface Catholic School (2013–present) *Louise Brighton (2013–2016) - formerly at St. John Paul II, Loretto Abbey, St. Mother Teresa (VP & teacher), and

*Jolanta Hickey (2012-2013) - served as VP at Michael Power/St. Joseph (2011); now Principal at Notre Dame (2013–present); served as the founding Arts/Music teacher and VP at Cardinal Carter (1990-2011; 2012) *Brian Hunt (1994-2005) - Physical Education teacher and VP; served as VP at St. John Henry Newman (2005-2010) and

Neil McNeil Neil McNeil (November 23, 1851 – May 25, 1934) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver from 1910 to 1912 and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto from 1912 to 1934. Early life McNeil was born in Hillsborough, Inverness County, Nov ...

(2010-2011); now Principal at

Francis Libermann Francis Mary Paul Libermann (french: link=no, François-Marie-Paul Libermann; born Jacob Libermann; 14 April 1802 – 2 February 1852) was a 19th-century French Jewish convert to Catholicism, member of the Spiritan Congregation. He is best known ...

(2011–present) *Joseph Liscio (2012–2016) - formerly at

and Brebeuf (2008-2012) *Peter O'Neil - served at

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...

and James Cardinal McGuigan; now at Michael Power/St. Joseph (2012–present) *Bernice Peacock (2010-2012) - served at St. Mother Teresa; now at Notre Dame (2012–present) *Franco Rubino - now at Cardinal Carter and Loretto Abbey (2012–present) *Anyta Kyriakou (2016–2019) - formerly at

; now a principal at this school (2019–present) *Katherine Akelaitis (2016–2019) - formerly at Father John Redmond; now at

Bishop Allen Bishop Allen is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York, United States. The band's core members are Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, who are supported both on stage and in the studio by a rotating cast of musical collaborators. The ...

(2019–present) *Cheryl-Ann Madeira (2019-2021) - formerly at Chaminade; now a principal at Notre Dame (2021–present) *Lisa Bailey (2019-2022) - formerly at

Mary Ward Mary Ward may refer to: Scientists and academics * Mary Ward (nurse) (1884–1972) English nurse to the boat people on the waterways * Mary Ward (scientist) (née King, 1827–1869) Irish amateur scientist, was killed by an experimental steam car ...

*Kathleen Wong (2021-present) *Stella Yusuf (2022-present) - formerly at Notre Dame

Feeder schools

*School of the Annunciation *Buchanan Public School *Clairea Public School *Don Mills Middle School *Donview Middle Health & Wellness Academy *Dorset Park Public School *General Brock Public School *General Crerar Public School *George Peck Public School *Holy Spirit Catholic School *Ionview Public School *J.B. Tyrell Senior Public School *John Buchan Senior Public School *Maryvale Public School *Milne Valley Middle School *Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School *Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School *Precious Blood Catholic School *St. Catherine Catholic School *St. Issac Jogues Catholic School *St. Kevin Catholic School *St. Lawrence Catholic School *St. Maria Goretti Catholic School *Terraview-Willowfield Public School *Wexford Public School

Notable alumni

Isabel Bayrakdarian Isabel Bayrakdarian ( arm, Իզապէլ Պայրագտարեան; born February 1, 1974) is a Lebanese-born Canadian operatic soprano of Armenian descent who now resides and works in the United States. Early life Born in Zahlé, Lebanon, into an ...

- soprano, Juno Award winner *

Ben Johnson Ben, Benjamin or Benny Johnson may refer to: In sports Association football * Ben Johnson (footballer, born 2000), English footballer * Ben Johnson (soccer) (born 1977), American soccer player Other codes of football *Ben Johnson (Australian foot ...

- sprinter * John Kawaja - World Champion curler * Steve Konroyd - former NHL hockey player *

Elvira Kurt Elvira Kurt (born December 9, 1961) is a Canadian comedian, and was the host of the game show '' Spin Off''. She hosted the entertainment satire/talk show ''PopCultured with Elvira Kurt'', which began on The Comedy Network in Canada in 2005. That ...

- stand-up comedian *

Maestro Fresh Wes Wesley "Wes" Williams (born March 31, 1968) is a Canadians, Canadian rapper, record producer, actor, and author. He is known professionally by his stage names Maestro Fresh Wes (formerly Maestro Fresh-Wes) or Maestro as a musician, and is cred ...

- rapper/producer *

Jennifer McKelvie Jennifer McKelvie ( ) is a Canadian politician who has been the deputy mayor of Toronto since November 16, 2022. McKelvie has also represented Ward 25 Scarborough—Rouge Park on Toronto City Council since 2018. McKelvie was one of only two ca ...

- 13th Deputy Mayor of Toronto & City Councillor *

Mark McKoy Mark Anthony McKoy (born December 10, 1961) is a Canadian retired track and field athlete. He won the gold medal in the 110 metres hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He also won the 60 metres hurdles title at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Cha ...

- Olympian (1992 Summer Olympics) * Tim Micallef - sports broadcaster and radio host *

Tre Mission Tre Mission is a Canadian musician,

- rapper/producer *

Bill Morneau William Francis Morneau Jr. (born October 7, 1962) is a Canadian businessman and former Liberal Party politician who served as minister of finance and member of Parliament (MP) for Toronto Centre from 2015 to 2020. Morneau was executive chai ...

- Canada's Minister of Finance November 4, 2015 – August 17, 2020 * Larry Murphy - former professional ice hockey player * Nasri - songwriter/producer, lead singer of

MAGIC! Magic! (stylized in all uppercase) is a Canadian reggae fusion band based in Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of lead vocalist, guitarist/producer Nasri Atweh, guitarist/keyboardist Mark "Pelli" Pellizzer, and bassist Ben Spivak. Active si ...

Cindy Nicholas Cynthia Maria "Cindy" Nicholas, (August 20, 1957 – May 19, 2016) was a long distance swimmer and a politician in Ontario, Canada. In 1977, she became the first woman to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel. From 1987 to 1990 she w ...

- marathon swimmer (Lake Ontario), former politician * Natalia Popova - Ukrainian figure skater *

Harland Williams Harland Michael Williams (born November 14, 1962) is a Canadian actor, comedian and writer. After several years of stand-up in Toronto and Los Angeles he made his film debut in ''Dumb and Dumber'' (1994) before playing starring roles in the short ...

- stand-up comedian * Kevin McKeown and Eric Owen - musicians of the band

Black Pistol Fire Black Pistol Fire is a Canadian-born, Austin-based rock duo. The group consists of Kevin McKeown (guitar/lead vocals) and Eric Owen (drums). Their sound is a mix of classic southern rock and garage punk. History Early Years Kevin McKeown and Eri ...

References

External links

Senator O'Connor College School
{{High schools in Toronto Toronto Catholic District School Board High schools in Toronto North York Catholic secondary schools in Ontario Educational institutions established in 1963 1963 establishments in Ontario