Laurentian High School
Laurentian High School is a former Ottawa high school. It was located on Baseline Rd. at the corner of Clyde, in the city's West End. The school opened in 1958. It was built at the same time as Rideau High School and Ridgemont High School and has the same base design. Laurentian's students came from two distinct areas: to the west, the middle-class neighbourhoods of Bel-Air Heights and Copeland Park, bounded by the Queensway, Woodroffe Ave, Baseline Rd and Clyde Ave; and to the south and east, the blue-collar and social housing neighbourhoods of Carlington: Caldwell, Morrisset, Trenton and surrounding streets. Over time, Laurentian expanded twice, bringing its capacity to 1,143 students.
As the thousand-odd houses in the Bel-Air Park and Bel-Air Heights and Copeland Park neighbourhoods had been built by Robert Campeau within the space of about five years from approximately 1957 through 1962, the population of children at first steadily increased as the young couples bought houses and had children, then steadily declined as the initial home-buyers' children graduated. By 2004, the student population at Laurentian had fallen to 510, despite the fact that thousands of homes were being built in the surrounding community of Central Park. In December of that year the board decided to close the school anyway.[citation needed]
History
The Mayor of Ottawa, George H. Nelms, placed the cornerstone on June 24, 1957. When the school opened in September 1958, 600 students enrolled, which was twice the number that had been expected. Mr. W.C. Wallen was Laurentian's first principal.
Music
Since its start, LHS engaged Mr. Henry Bonnenberg as music director. He had recently moved to Ottawa from Holland, where he played with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Within four years at Laurentian, he had developed an award-winning, symphonic band. It was classified a "symphonic band" because it used extensive woodwinds such as flutes, clarinets, oboes and bassoons to replicate the sound of violins and cellos.
During the 1960s, sometimes known as the "Golden Age of popular music," Laurentian was filled with music and drama. Memories of Vienna, one of the many concerts staged during this decade, was commended by Elisabeth Strauss, matriarch of the Strauss musical dynasty of Vienna. The Laurentian Symphonic Band travelled extensively to perform during the 1960s and 1970s, occasionally entertaining Canadian Servicemen in Europe. LHS toured Europe for 26 days in 1969 playing on Radio Nederlands and in the bandshell where the "Blue Danube" was first performed. LHS had the first high school band to perform in the Opera of the National Arts Centre. Following his retirement from LHS in 1979, Mr. Bonnenberg continued to teach music at the University of Ottawa until just before his death in 1995.
Sports
LHS supported a football program in the 1960s, 1970s 1980s and 1990s
The 1990s saw the decline of football, but the LHS weight club had 50 members and 15 supervisors.
In the 1990s Laurentian celebrated its multicultural diversity with potluck dinners. These events brought various cultures together, through their food.
Notable alumni
- Lucie Edwards, (Canadian diplomat, High Commissioner)
- Carlo Disipio CFL Football Player,
- Bobby Smith (ice hockey) NHL Hockey Player,
- Timothy Sharp Youth Pastor,
- Glenroy Gilbert Olympic Athlete Gold Medalist 4x100m relay Atlanta 1996,
- Dean Noel CFL Football Player,
- Ken Leblanc (bobsleigh) 3 time Olympic Athlete Bobsleigh,
- John Ung '97 King of Fighters Tournament Champion,
- Doug Wilson (ice hockey) NHL Hockey Player,
- Murray Wilson (ice hockey) NHL Hockey Player, Montreal Canadians, Los Angeles Kings, 3 time Stanley Cup champion
- Nancy Sakovich (actress)
Demolition
Following closure in 2004 and sitting vacant for 3 years, LHS buildings and property were offered for sale in 2007. The City of Ottawa was interested in keeping this community landmark in public hands, but the School Board was unwilling to compromise on the sale price. The Board subsequently sold the school on July 18, 2007 to Clyde Baseline Developments. It was destroyed by large excavators to make way for a mixed-use development. A WalMart superstore opened on the location in 2011.
In the media
The school served as the set of a television series, Family Biz, which began filming on May 5, 2008. A total of 26 30-minute episodes were filmed. The series was co-produced by three organizations: Muse Entertainment (a Montreal film company), Summit Crescent Productions and Breakout Films. The series debuted in Spring of 2009 on YTV.[1][2]
References
- Keith, Janet. The Collegiate Institute Board of Ottawa: A Short History, 1843-1969. Ottawa: Kent, 1969.
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External links
Floor plan of Laurentian High School prior to contrunction of Welding Shop and secondary fire escape. Coordinates: 45°21′47″N 75°44′16″W / 45.363169°N 75.737911°W