Royal St. George's College (RSGC) is an independent school for boys located in

The Annex The Annex is a neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The traditional boundaries of the neighbourhood are north to Dupont Street, south to Bloor Street, west to Bathurst Street and east to Avenue Road. The City of Toronto recognizes ...

neighbourhood 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 anch ...

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 C ...

, Canada. The school admits boys from Grades 3 through 12. Founded in 1961 as an Anglican choir school in the tradition of the great collegiate and cathedral choir schools in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, the school admitted its first students in 1964. It is the only pre-university school in Canada authorized to use the "Royal" designation, and it houses the historic Chapel of St. Alban-the-Martyr. In July, 2011, Stephen Beatty '86 became the school's seventh headmaster.

History

St. George's began as the vision of a group of Anglican clergy and laity in the 1950s interested in establishing a permanent home for boys' choral music in Canada. Led by Dr.

Healey Willan James Healey Willan (12 October 1880 – 16 February 1968) was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and ...

CC, who served as first Warden of the college, the founders looked to the model of the diocesan summer choir camp run by the late John L. Bradley (third Warden) and John Cook for inspiration. In 1961, the Ontario Legislature passed a private member's bill, sponsored by the Hon. Alfred H. Cowling MPP, incorporating the school as St. George's College. At the time, the founders were in negotiations with the Church of St. George's on-the-Hill to utilize their facilities for the school. While the location changed, the name stuck and at the invitation of Bishop Frederick H. Wilkinson of Toronto the parish of St. Alban the Martyr and the resident St. Andrew's Japanese Congregation began joint use of the Howland Avenue property with the school. Dr. John "Jack" Lennox Wright, the founding headmaster, welcomed the first classes of students in 1964. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Howard Clark, formally dedicated the school. Other founders immediately joined the teaching faculty, including the Rev. Kenneth Scott, John "Bear" Allen, and others. Allen succeeded as second headmaster in 1978. He expanded the school's outlook inclusivity and facilities while remaining faithful to the founding vision. In 1988, John R. Latimer assumed leadership of the school, and he led the celebrations marking the Silver Jubilee of the college in 1989. These events culminated in a visit to the school by the

Duchess of Kent Duchess of Kent is the principal courtesy title used by the wife of the Duke of Kent. There have been four titles referring to Kent since the 18th century. The current duchess is Katharine, the wife of Prince Edward. He inherited the dukedom ...

, who proclaimed the 'Royal' designation on behalf of Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

. Following Latimer's departure in 1996, Hal Hannaford became the new headmaster. Hannaford left RSGC in 2008 to become the headmaster at

Selwyn House School Selwyn House School (SHS) is an English-language Independent school, independent K-11 boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. The school was founded in 1908 by Englishman Captain Algernon Lucas and was named in honour of Selwyn College, Cambr ...

in Montreal. Hannaford's move to Montreal made way for Steve Griffin to succeed to the headmastership of the college. In February 2010, Griffin abruptly resigned and Paul O'Leary was appointed interim headmaster. Stephen Beatty assumed the headmastership in July 2011. The college's motto, ''Scientia Pietate'', suggested by founder Professor J. B. E. Garstang (son and partner of archaeologist

John Garstang John Garstang (5 May 1876 – 12 September 1956) was a British archaeologist of the Ancient Near East, especially Egypt, Sudan, Anatolia and the southern Levant. He was the younger brother of Professor Walter Garstang, FRS, a marine bi ...

) translates approximately as ''Through Knowledge and Duty.'' Other important phrases in the school include ''Respect, Responsibility, and Voice'', and the famous words of

William of Wykeham William of Wykeham (; 1320 or 1324 – 27 September 1404) was Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England. He founded New College, Oxford, and New College School in 1379, and founded Winchester College in 1382. He was also the clerk of wor ...

, ''Manners Maketh Men'', appropriated by Dr. Wright as a personal credo.

School life

Students are divided between Junior (Grades 3-8) and Senior Schools (Grades 9-12) during their careers and complete the Provincial requirements for Secondary School graduation, as well as being able to enroll in Advanced Placement programmes. Despite a medium-sized and urban campus, athletics at the College have always played a vital part in student life. Teams include Rugby, Hockey, Tennis, Ball-Hockey, Soccer, Softball, Skiing, Volleyball, Cross-Country, Golf, Basketball, Snowboarding, Ultimate, Bicycling as well as Racquets. Judo is also popular. A fitness centre allows the boys to take increased responsibility for their own physical health. A large gym is in use for phys. ed classes. Students swim at the nearby St. Alban's Boys' and Girls' Club. A typical day for a student involves either Assembly, held in Ketchum Hall, or Chapel, regular academic classes, music- instrumental, or choral, outdoor play and organized games and some other extra-curricular activity. A variety of clubs exist including the Environment Club, the Vinyl Club, the Newspaper of the college, known as ''The Grifter'', the Speaking Union,

the Duke of Edinburgh's Award The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations. The awards recognise adolescents and young ...

, Jazz Band, the Servers' Guild, various intramural sports leagues, Tech Crew and various yearly dramatic productions. Every Thursday, the entire school meets together in the Chapel for Choral Evensong, sung by the choir and led by the Chaplain, a licensed minister of the Anglican Church of Canada. There are several community Eucharists celebrated as well, according to the liturgical calendar. For spiritual and social resources, in addition to the Chaplain, the College engages a social worker to help address the needs of all community members. Because St. George's is of an Anglican foundation it welcomes students of all backgrounds, without proselytization, and requires the respectful participation of all boys in the nurturing of the spiritual life. Student leadership is expressed most potently in the Student Council, the Junior School Captains, the Stewards, and the lead boys in the graduating class, the Prefects, under the Head Prefect. Students compete with each other on four teams, or houses, named for the four great cathedrals of England which collectively supply the school colours. These Houses are Canterbury (red), Westminster (white), Winchester (gold), and York (blue).

Chapel

Archbishop

Arthur Sweatman Arthur Sweatman (1834–1909) was a Canadian Anglican bishop and the third Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada. Early life Sweatman was born on 19 November 1834 in London, England, to parents John and Anne. His education began in two London ...

of Toronto envisioned the Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr replacing the ''de facto'' use of St. James' Church, whose parishioners were unwilling to compromise with their bishop over the use of their church as diocesan seat. St. Alban's was designated the cathedral of the

Anglican Diocese of Toronto The Diocese of Toronto is an administrative division of the Anglican Church of Canada covering the central part of southern Ontario. It was founded in 1839 and is the oldest of the seven dioceses comprising the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario ...

in 1883 by an act of the Ontario Legislature, while still in the planning stages. The chancel & crypt of the projected building were completed, according to the plans of Richard Cunningham Windeyer, in 1891, but subsequent construction stalled and was only partially continued by Ralph Adams Cram and Vaux Chadwick in the first decades of the twentieth century. The patronage of Sir

Henry Mill Pellatt Major-General Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, CVO (January 6, 1859 – March 8, 1939) was a Canadian financier and soldier. He is notable for his role in bringing hydro-electricity to Toronto for the first time, and also for his large château in Toront ...

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and Edward Marion Chadwick was essential to the project. The chancel became the school chapel when the College leased the St. Alban's property, at the suggestion of Bishop Fredreick Wilkinson. The completed chancel features the only double hammerbeam roof in Canada as heraldic stained glass. A second phase of building was begun in 1912 with the laying of a foundation stone by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and his daughter, Princess Patricia. The ground they broke would eventually become the foundation for the Senior School, known as Founders' Hall. In addition to the chapel, a See House, or bishop's residence was built in 1885 by architects Frank Darling and S. George Curry, which now serves as the college's administrative hub. Also, a school building was erected about 1897 by the Wells-DePencier family of Davenport to house the short-lived St. Alban's Cathedral School. This building now houses classrooms and the school's assembly hall, named for founder and second Warden P. A. C. Ketchum. St. Alban's School was directed by Marmaduke Matthews, the founder of the

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estate in Toronto, as well as the

Ontario College of Art & Design Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities within do ...

. Cathedral status was dropped in 1936, which ended all hope for the completion of the

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

and

tower A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures. Towers are specifi ...

Fires

The building has had two fires: * 1929 fire damaged the interior * 2010 fire damaged the roof, destroyed woodwork and flooring

Alumni

Graduates of the school, Old Georgians, can continue a lifelong involvement with RSGC through the Alumni Association which meets monthly to plan support events for the school and to foster goodwill among graduates. Some Old Georgians have joined the Board of Governors of the school, while others teach, offer professional mentorships, or make financial contributions. Old Georgians are welcomed back to the school at several annual events, including the Alumni Dinner, the Carol Service, and the Ball-Hockey Tournament. Notable Old Georgians include: *

Damian Abraham Damian Abraham (also known as Father Damian, Pink Eyes and Mr. Damian) is a Canadian musician and presenter who first came to prominence as the vocalist for the band Fucked Up. Career Abraham formed Fucked Up in Toronto in 2001. To date the b ...

('99) lead singer, Fucked Up, Host of The Wedge * Dr. Jonathan Baillie ('90) zoologist *Afrim Pristine ('99) owner o
the Cheese Boutique
* Dr. Rob Beanlands ('77) cardiologist & academic * Sean Black ('93) Olympic boxer & model * Alexy Boggian ('74) Swiss politician and environmentalist * James Carl ('79) sculptor *

Thomas D'Arcy Thomas D'Arcy is a Canadian singer and songwriter born in Guernsey, Channel Islands. D'Arcy's family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario in 1981. He has been a member of indie rock bands The Carnations, All Systems Go!, Small Sins, Another Blue Doo ...

('98) alternative musician * Alex Dobson ('93) Opera singer * Jonah Falco ('01) drummer of the band Fucked Up * Andrew Ferns ('93) producer and director * Robert Gleadow ('03) Opera singer * Ed Hanley ('89) fusion musician, tabla player for Autorickshaw * Professor Campbell Harvey ('77) academic * Neil Hetherington ('91) CEO of

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('87) actor *

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(‘89) former Canadian diplomat * Michael Lambert ('04) Olympic snowboarder *

Eli Langer Eli Langer (born 1967 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian visual artist. Langer rose to prominence in 1993, while 26 years old, in the Toronto art world with a solo exhibition at the Mercer Union Gallery in Toronto. The exhibition consisted of 8 ...

('86) visual artist * John Millen ('79) Olympic Bronze Medallist for sailing *

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('87) director & screenwriter *

Andrew Nikiforuk Andrew Nikiforuk (born 1955) is a Canadian journalist and author. His writing has appeared in many outlets, including '' Saturday Night'', ''Maclean's'', ''Alberta Views'', '' Alternatives Journal'', and national newspapers. He has won multiple Nat ...

('76) journalist * John Northcott ('80) journalist * John Ortved ('99) writer * Bruce Patterson ('86) Deputy

Chief Herald of Canada Chief Herald of Canada is the title held by the head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The Chief Herald of Canada directs the operations of the Canadian Heraldic Authority and makes the grants of arms. There are exceptions to this, such as certa ...

* Christian Pavey ('94) handyman/television personality * Andrew Podnieks ('80) hockey historian *

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('70) suffragan bishop of the

and President Emeritus of the Compass Rose Society * Tim Pyper ('99) organist & composer * Gabe Radford ('93) classical musician * George Rutherford ('71) former Head of School,

Holy Trinity School (Richmond Hill) Holy Trinity School (HTS) is a private, co-educational, university preparatory institution located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada. There are approximately 740 students currently enrolled from junior ki ...

* Reza Satchu ('87) financier * Mark Schatzker ('92) author & journalist * Noah '40' Shebib, record producer * the Honourable

Peter Thomson Peter Thomson may refer to: * Peter Thomson (golfer) (1929–2018), Australian golfer * Peter Thomson (diplomat) (born 1948), Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations * Peter Thomson (footballer) (born 1977), English footballer * Peter ...

('85) race car driver * Mark Wilkins ('02) race car driver

Notable former faculty

* The Reverend

Dorian Baxter Dorian Baxter (born 3 April 1950) is a Canadian religious minister and musician and a perennial candidate for political office in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. He was consecrated as an bishop in the Federation of Independent Anglican Churches in 2 ...

, founder of Christ the King Graceland Independent Anglican Church of Canada *

, British-born Canadian actor, writer and director best known for playing Dr. Rodney McKay in ''

Stargate SG-1 ''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, ...

'', ''

Stargate Atlantis ''Stargate Atlantis'' (usually stylized in all caps and often abbreviated ''SGA'') is an adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's ''Stargate'' franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Coop ...

and ''

Stargate Universe ''Stargate Universe'' (often abbreviated as ''SGU'') is a military science fiction television series and part of MGM's ''Stargate'' franchise. It follows the adventures of a present-day, multinational exploration team traveling on the Ancient ...

' * Dr. John Tuttle, organist * John Latimer, a founder of

Greenwood College School Greenwood College School is an independent co-educational middle school and high school located on the south-east corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Davisville Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. History Established in 2002 by Richard Wernham, Ju ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Saint George's College Anglican schools in Canada Private schools in Toronto High schools in Toronto Elementary schools in Toronto Educational institutions established in 1964 Organizations based in Canada with royal patronage Boys' schools in Canada 1964 establishments in Ontario