Western Canada High School
Western Canada High School | |
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Address | |
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641 17 Avenue SW , , | |
Coordinates | 51°02′13″N 114°04′37″W / 51.0370°N 114.0770°W |
Information | |
Type | Private (1903–1928, as Western Canada College) Public (since 1928) |
Motto | Motto: Intelligentia, Vires, Virtus (Latin for: Understanding, Strength, Courage) |
Established | 1903 |
School board | Calgary Board of Education |
Principal | Carma Cornea |
Grades | 10–12 |
Enrollment | 2211[1] (2020) |
• Grade 10 | 706 |
• Grade 11 | 747 |
• Grade 12 | 758 |
Campus | Urban |
Team name | RedHawks |
Communities served | Mount Royal Mission, Cliff Bungalow, Connaught |
Website | school |
Last updated: December 16, 2017 |
Western Canada High School (WCHS) is a public senior high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has classes for grades 10 through 12. Western is located in the 17th Avenue business district of the Lower Mount Royal community, and is the most centrally located public high school in Calgary.[2] In terms of academics, it is the top-ranked public high school in Calgary.[3]
History[]
The original school building was completed in 1903 as a British-style exclusive high school for boys called Western Canada College (not a college in the North American sense of the word). It was created by "The Western Canada College Bill of Incorporating Ordinance" enacted by the Government of the Northwest Territories, which Calgary was then a part of before the province of Alberta was created in 1905.[4] To raise funds for the new college, 5000 shares were sold for $10 each. Many of the original investors read like a "Who's Who" list for Alberta; Pat Burns, R. B. Bennett, A.E. Cross, William Pearce, A.C. Rutherford (who was premier at the time), and George Lane.
A granite shaft bearing a Cross of Sacrifice was dedicated as a list of honour memorial to Western Canada College students who were killed during the First World War and who served during the Second World War, the Korean War and as peacekeepers.[5]
The private school had financial problems and was sold to the Calgary Board of Education. The CBE renamed it, re-opened it as public school, and constructed additional buildings on the land.
Western was Calgary's first composite high school, providing both technical and academic courses of study. The school has been substantially renovated and additions have been made to the building over the years. Linda Raasveldt became the first female principal of the school in 2002. The school recently underwent a series of renovations which were completed in Fall 2012.
Academics[]
Special programs[]
The school provides French and English language as a primary language instruction. In addition, it is one of a select number of schools in Calgary to offer French immersion. Western is one of a small number of Calgary high schools to offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The school also offers an extensive performing and visual arts program, and offers a certificate to recognize students that have made fine arts a focus of learning at the high school level. The school is part of the Action for Bright Children Society.[6]
Clubs[]
- Alpha Club
- Amnesty Club
- Anime Club
- Artificial Intelligence Club
- Art Club
- Book Club
- Chess Club
- Compassion, Connection and Community
- Computer Science Game Developers
- Culture Club
- Debate
- Environment Club
- Film Club
- Franco-Western Club
- Future Up (formerly Launch X)
- Geography Club
- Health and Wellness Club
- History Club
- Interact
- Jam Club
- Jr. Achievement
- Leadership
- Math Club
- MED Club
- Model UN
- Parallel Magazine
- Pause for Paws
- Philosophy Club
- School Store
- Science Club
- SKIP
- Spanish Club
- Spectrum
- Speech Club
- Student Voice
- Study Space
- Yearbook Club
Athletics[]
The Western Redhawks compete under the governance of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association[7] and Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association[8]
The school boasts teams in the following sports:
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Swim and Dive
- Track and Field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
- Dance[citation needed]
Notable alumni[]
- Ron Allbright – CFL player 1956–1967
- Conrad Bain – actor
- Ryan Belleville – actor, writer
- Barney Bentall – singer/songwriter
- Braids – art rock band
- Karen Connelly – novelist and poet
- Jim Dinning – Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1986–1997
- Reid Duke – first hockey player signed by the Vegas Golden Knights
- Emerson Frostad – baseball player
- George Hansen – CFL player 1959–1966
- Dan Hays – Senator 1984–2007
- – comedian, actor, and TV host.[9]
- Norman Kwong – CFL player 1948–1960; Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2005–2010
- Jack Leslie – Mayor of Calgary 1965–1969
- Jan Lisiecki – concert pianist
- Suzette Mayr – novelist and poet
- Tate McRae – dancer and singer (born 2003)
- Josh Morrissey – defenceman, Winnipeg Jets
- Carl Nickle – founder of the Daily Oil Bulletin; Member of Parliament 1951–1957
- Mark Oldershaw – athlete and businessman
- Larry Robinson – CFL player 1961–1975
- Lorna Slater - Scottish politician
- Kinnie Starr – singer/songwriter
- David Swann – politician, father of Jacob Swan
- Taryn Swiatek – soccer player[10]
References[]
- ^ http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/school-directory/_layouts/cbe.service.spm/viewprofile.aspx?id=169
- ^ Student Population by Grade, School and Authority, Alberta (PDF). Alberta Education. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ WCHS historical timeline
- ^ http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=1344 War memorial
- ^ http://www.abccalgary.com/schools.html
- ^ http://www.asaa.ca
- ^ http://www.calgaryhighschoolsports.com
- ^ Lewis, Jason (2004-09-09). "The doctor of love is in: Former Loose Moose improviser plays the ladies' man in Intern Academy". FFWD Weekly. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
- ^ Maxwell, Cameron, "Swiatek sets sights on China", Calgary Sun, Canadian Online Explorer, January 27, 2002.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Western Canada High School. |
- Educational institutions established in 1903
- High schools in Calgary
- International Baccalaureate schools in Alberta
- 1903 establishments in the Northwest Territories