York Memorial Collegiate Institute

hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (April 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

York Memorial Collegiate Institute
Current building, damaged as of May 2019 due to fire (top) Former Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy building to be used as a temporary home (bottom)
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
2690 Eglinton Avenue West Toronto , Ontario , M6M 1T9 Canada
Coordinates	43°41′25″N 79°28′35″W / 43.69028°N 79.47639°W / 43.69028; -79.47639Coordinates: 43°41′25″N 79°28′35″W / 43.69028°N 79.47639°W / 43.69028; -79.47639
Information
School type	Public, high school
Motto	Macte Nova Virtute (Go Forth With New Strength)
Religious affiliation(s)	Non-aligned
Founded	1929
Status	Active, school temporarily relocated
School board	Toronto District School Board (Board of Education for the City of York)
School district	North-West
Superintendent	Sandy Spyropoulos Executive Superintendent, LC1[1] Vicky Branco LN03 Curtis Ennis LN04
Area trustee	Chris Tonks Ward 6
School number	6697 / 954683
Principal	Donna Drummond[2]
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	793 (2019–20)
Language	English
Colour(s)	Red and Gold
Mascot	Mustangs
Team name	York Memorial Mustangs
Website	schools.tdsb.on.ca/yorkmemorial/

York Memorial Collegiate Institute (York Memorial CI, YMCI, York Memorial, or Memo) is a public secondary school that is part of the Toronto District School Board in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is de jure located at 2690 Eglinton Avenue West, at the corner of Eglinton Ave. W. and Trethewey Drive. The school is often referred to as "Memo" by its students.

History[]

In 1929, the Council of the Township of York decided to construct a high school in memory of their youth killed in World War I. 9.5 acres were purchased for the school. Architect Charles Wellington Smith designed the building and the cornerstone was laid on May 6. The school was opened on September 3, 1929 to its first students. The Collegiate Gothic building with Don Valley Brick and smooth faded stone, consists of 15 classrooms, 3 science labs, an auditorium, cafeteria, two gyms, a swimming pool, and various offices. It was built at a cost of $250 000.^[3][4] The school officially opened on January 30, 1930.

A World War II memorial was dedicated on February 27, 1949.^[5]

Since the building was originally constructed in 1929, in 1954, an addition with six classrooms was added.^[4] This is followed by the construction of seven classrooms and library in 1961, followed by fourteen classrooms and pool area conversion in 1966. The next year, in 1967, a new swimming pool was built in the site of the Centennial building, with a gym and community centre.^[4] Eight rooms were converted between 1968 and 1969.^[4] The last addition, in the eastern portition, was built in 1971, currently houses the cafeteria, library, and the offices of the York school board (which are currently used by the TDSB as its continuing education offices).^[4]

By 1973, fire escapes were added, space in the interior was converted for lockers. Some rooms were also converted in 1988.^[4]

In 1985, the building was designated as a heritage building by the York City Council.^[6]

On May 6 and 7, 2019, fires started in the YMCI building, which reached six-alarm status.^[7] The second fire caused sections of the roof and walls to collapse, as well as damage or destruction to the stained glass windows in the auditorium.^[8] All of the students were temporarily housed in nearby George Harvey Collegiate Institute.

To accommodate the YMCI students for the 2019–20 school year, the TDSB selected the Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy on Royal York and Eglinton in Etobicoke, which closed its doors in 2018, as a temporary location for the school. The TTC began adjusting services on the 32 Eglinton West bus route as a result.

Advanced Placement[]

York Memorial has Roadmap to University with Success with Honours (RUSH) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs. The RUSH program is an enrichment program that trains students for the full AP program. AP courses are offered in a wide variety of subjects.^{[citation needed]}

There is also a Pre-Advanced Placement program (10 English, 11 Biology, 11 Physics, 11 Chemistry) which students attend in grades 10 to 11 before taking the AP program in grade 12.

Notable alumni[]

• Samantha Bee – Comedian, The Daily Show correspondent
• Dave Devall – Retired weatherman
• D-Sisive – rapper
• Harry Sinden – Former Boston Bruins' president
• Gail Kim – WWE Wrestler/diva and TNA Knockout
• Alan Tonks – Canadian former Liberal MP

See also[]

• List of high schools in Ontario

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to York Memorial Collegiate Institute.

• Official website
• TDSB Profile
• "York Memorial Collegiate Institute School profile" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved May 29, 2009.

This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please by removing excessive or inappropriate external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into footnote references. (January 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

• "York Memorial Collegiate Institute" (PDF). Tdsb.on.ca. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
• Computer studies at York Memorial
• CBC archives: Recording of Runnymede Collegiate Institute versus York Memorial Collegiate on the radio quiz show "I.Q.".
• Our Heritage
• York Memorial Collegiate Institute on TOBuilt