Central Technical School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Central Technical School, aka Central Tech, is a vocational school in Toronto, Canada. It is today located on Bathurst Street at Harbord. The school was founded in 1892 and originally classes were held in part of St. Lawrence Hall. It was created to meet the need for skilled workers for Toronto's booming industries. In contrast to other schools that were more arts-centred, the school offered courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and drafting. The school mainly catered to older students with the classes being held in the evenings so that employees could attend after work.
The school proved successful and it moved to the more spacious Old Wycliffe Hall by the University of Toronto. The school moved again in 1901 to buildings vacated by the Toronto Athletic Club. In 1911 work began on a new building with Prime Minister Robert Borden laying the cornerstone. This building, with several expansions, remains the school's home to this day.
The school gradually became more focused on educating the youth with the adult education programs being moved to other schools in the late 1930s. It also got more programs becoming both a vocational and an arts program. Its visual arts program was especially renowned with graduates such as Lawren Harris, Terry Mosher, and Aba Bayefsky. Famous drop-outs include none other than Honest Ed (aka Ed Mirvish), owner of Honest Ed's at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst Streets in Toronto.
