De La Salle College (Toronto)

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De La Salle College "Oaklands"
Image:OaklandsLogo.jpg
Motto: Signum Fidei (Sign of Faith)
Established 1851
Type Private, Co-educational
Principal Br. Domenic Viggiani '76, FSC
Faculty 58
Students 590
Grades 5–12
Location Toronto, Ontario Canada
Colors Green and Red
Mascot Squirrel

De La Salle College "Oaklands" is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Toronto, Ontario. It is operated by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The school bills itself as a university preparatory institution in the Roman Catholic tradition. It offers instruction from grades 5 through 12.

The college is founded on four traditions: -The Catholic Tradition -The Liberal Arts Tradition -The Lasallian Tradition -The Service to Others Tradition

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The College's main building.
Enlarge
The College's main building.

The Brothers of the Christian Schools arrived in Montreal in 1837 and founded the first permanent community of De La Salle Brothers in North America. At the request of Bishop De Charbonnel, five Brothers came to Toronto in 1851 and there established a grammar school at the corner of Lombard and Jarvis Streets. Twenty years later, the school was extended to include secondary education and was relocated to what was then the Bank of Upper Canada. The name De La Salle Institute was changed to De La Salle College in 1880 when university entrance courses were added to the commercial curriculum. This building still stands at the corner of Adelaide and George Streets.

The next major step occurred in 1913 when De La Salle College took over part of the 67 Bond Street building, right next to St. Michael's Cathedral. In 1925, the senior section was relocated in what is now Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. In 1932 and 1933, these classes were moved to De La Salle College "Oaklands" which had opened in 1931.

[edit] Later history

"Oaklands" was once part of the Crown Lands deeded to Honourable John Elmsley in 1798. In 1858, Senator John Macdonald acquired 30 acres of it and built what is at present the residence of the Brothers. The Brothers of the Christian Schools bought 12 acres of the property in 1931 and turned it into a boys' school. Brother Alfred was the guiding genius in acquiring the property and became the school's first Director/Principal.

In 1950, after a great deal of effort and sacrifice on the part of the Brothers and the alumni of the school, the present structure was officially opened. De La Salle had always been a completely private school, but in 1967 a very significant change took place when grades nine and ten were placed under the auspices of the Metropolitan Separate School Board (MSSB). By 1987, the entire high school was under the MSSB, now the Toronto District Catholic School Board.

After much ongoing thought and discussion, the Brothers of the Christian Schools determined that returning the school to its former independent status would best meet the spiritual and educational needs of the Catholic community they are called to serve. In September 1994, De La Salle College "Oaklands" again reopened its doors as an independent, now co-educational, university preparatory school.

[edit] Patron Saint

[edit] St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle

St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle was born in Rheims, France on April 30, 1651. He was just 29 years old when he realized that the educational system of his day was inadequate to meet the needs of the poor children of Seventeenth Century France. To provide a Christian and human education that would be practical and effective, De La Salle founded a religious community of men, the Brothers of the Christian Schools ( Fratres Scholarum Christianarum), dedicated to the instruction of youth, especially the poor. After many hardships, De La Salle died on Good Friday, April 7, 1719. He was canonized a saint of the Catholic Church in 1900 and declared "Universal Patron of All Teachers" by his Holiness Pope Pius XII in 1950. The feast of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle is celebrated on the 15th of May by the world-wide Lasallian movement.

[edit] Campus

The "Oaklands" campus in the heart of Toronto, obtained its name because of the great Oak trees that adorned the property. To this day, the great Oaks still stand, providing the ideal setting for study. There are six major areas to the campus:

  • Main Building (red)
  • Arena (purple)
  • Oaklands Stadium (white)
  • De La Salle Centre (green)
  • De La Salle Hall (yellow)
  • Brothers' Residence (blue)

The main building and the centre are the areas of the school grounds in which classes take place.

[edit] Student life

[edit] Athletics

De La Salle has a long history of athletic excellence, having won multiple city and provincial championships (particularly in hockey and football) in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. After De La Salle became a private school once again, for several years, they struggled against superior schools such as St. Andrew's College , St. Michael's College School, and Upper Canada College who traditionally have bigger school bases to select their teams from. However, by the year 2000, teams from De La Salle were beginning to be noticed. Teams such as the Girls and Boys Varsity Hockey, Girls Volleyball, Girls Soccer were regularly advancing far into the playoffs of their respective leagues, with some making their way to the OFSAA championships. It wasn't until the fall of 2002, when the football team made its improbable run to upset Upper Canada College and St. Andrews College for the CISAA championship, and then beat Markham, Lakeshore Catholic, and Nelson for the Golden Horseshoe Bowl that people began to notice De La Salle once again as a school where athletics is an integral part of interscholastic life. Teams reflect the Lasallian mission of developing a well-rounded young person that will go on to be a leader in the community. A short sample of the De La Salle commitment to excellence:


  • 2000 and 2005 Brother Arthur Memorial Hockey Championship
  • 2001 UCC Invitational Boys U-14 Hockey Tournament Championship
  • 2001 CISAA Boys U-14 Hockey Championship
  • 2002 CISAA Boys Football Championship
  • 2002 OFSAA Golden Horseshoe Bowl Championship
  • 2004 CISAA Girls U-14 Basketball Championship
  • 2004 and 2005 CISAA Girls Cross-Country Championship
  • 2005 Varisty Girls Hockey Ice Gardens Tournament Championship
  • 2005 CISAA Overall Cross-Country Championship
  • 2005 CISAA Girls Track and Field Championship
  • 2005-06 CISAA Girls Varsity Hockey Championship
  • 2005-06 CISAA & OFSAA Girls Varisty Soccer Finalists

[edit] House system

2005 Brother Arthur Memorial Champions.
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2005 Brother Arthur Memorial Champions.

Every year, the Oaklands Cup is awarded to the house that accumulates the most points throughout the school year. Points are won through both academic and athletic achievement, as well as through commendable displays of school spirit. Every De La Salle student is a member of one of six houses:

  • Brother Wilfrid
  • Brother Michael
  • Brother Alfred
  • Brother Xavier
  • (present cupholders)
  • Brother Arthur
  • Brother Gabriel

[edit] Cadet Corps

The Oaklands Cadets (De La Salle Cadet Corps, DLSCC) was formed January 7, 1911 as #269 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps - involving nearly all the students at De La Salle College. (Though according to Corps historian Mr. Murt Howell, there is evidence to support the fact that the Cadet Corps at De La Salle existed even at the De La Salle grammar school at the corner of Lombard and Jarvis Streets even as far back as the 1860s. The Cadet Corps had tremendous success in its original days - even earning the honour to participate in the Guard of Honour for the Royal Visit in the 1930s. During the Second World War, one of the ex-Cadets (Major Fred Tilston) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Hochwald Forest. (Please see: http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-71-596-3095-10/on_this_day/conflict_war/tilston_victoria_cross)

Following the Second World War, the Cadet Corps was disbanded December 1, 1947, and perpetuated in the Cadet Band - which grew to great renown in the 50's, 60's and 70's. (For more information please see: "A Tribute to Courage" by Mr. Murt Howell http://www.delasalle-drumcorps.com/tribute.html)

The Oaklands Cadets reformed September, 2004 by petition of "Oaklands" Lasallian student Mena Ghabbour (class of 2006), unaffiliated to the National Canadian Cadet Movement. Teacher moderators for the program are Capt. Joseph Nonato (CO), 2Lt. Robert Costanzo (DCO), and 2Lt. Richard Rumble (Ops O). The Principal, Brother Domenic Vigianni, FSC is the Corps Honourary Lieutenant Colonel - keeping in tradition with that begun by the Brother who began the program in 1911, Hon LCol, Brother Rogatian, FSC.

The De La Salle Cadet Corps (DLSCC) is a student-run, teacher moderated program designed as a leadership laboratory for the participants in the program. Cadets are taught to systematically assess problems of a task, determine best courses of actions, strike out a plan, and then lead a team of their peers to successfully accomplish that plan.

The DLSCC strives to help its members reach the goals of Sound Character, Scholastic Excellence, Strong Athletics, and Competent Professionalism - all within a spirit of service. The Corps is a university prep program in and of itself - teaching students not only to get to university, but to succeed in it. Time management, self discipline, order, organization and leadership are some of the many lessons learned through responsibility in The Corps.

"Many are called, but few are chosen." The program of the DLSCC does not intend to make service men and women out of its Cadets - the vast majority of the participants have never even had the thought of joining the Canadian Forces cross their mind. What the program does intend to do is in keeping with the Lasallian ideology of imparting practical leadership - as was taught by the founder of the De La Salle Brothers - St. Jean Baptist de La Salle. This practical leadership is imparted efficiently and effectively through the same system used by the military to forge men and women who are capable of responsibility and leadership to those around them - and who are willing to do so. This system can be summarized by: "No nonsense, no excuse leadership; lead by example." Cadets are taught to act with: "Competence, Commitment, Courage and Compassion" - in keeping with the College's Christian and Catholic spirit.

Field and adventure training for the Cadets include such activities as: Reconnaissance Patrolling at Night, Rope Bridges, First Aid and Casualty Evacuation, Night Familiarity Exercises, Ontario Wilderness Survival, etc.. Land for training has been graciously made available by a generous family and supporter of the Corps who allows the DLSCC to train on their property located 1.5 hours drive north of the College.

The Corps was awarded "Team with the most Spirit" by the Patients and Staff at the Hospital for Sick Children for their participation in the Cadet Corps selected Charity: Meagan's Walk, in 2006.

[edit] Notable alumni

In keeping with the learned traditions of the College, alumni remain humble even in obvious success. This value is instilled unto students from their first day at the school to their last. Alumni are continually active in the De La Salle community, as well as in their own respective communities around the world.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Weisblott, Marc (1997-07-10). Keanu's speed:Tracing the steps of our Toronto homeboy. Eye Weekly. Retrieved on 2006-08-08.

[edit] External links

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