School type High School Grades 9-12 Phone +1 905-528-0214 Motto "Live Love Learn" | Principal Mr. Michael Gravina Website stma.hwcdsb.ca Province Ontario | |
Address 200 Whitney Ave, Hamilton, ON L8S 2G7, Canada | ||
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School is a Canadian secondary school in Hamilton, Ontario, operated by the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB). St. Mary is located in the West end of Hamilton area near McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation/McMaster Children's Hospital.
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School
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School. Current feeder schools of St. Mary are Canadian Martyrs, Guardian Angels, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Augustine (Dundas), St. Bernadette (Dundas), St. Joseph, and St. Thomas (Waterdown).
History
The existence and growth of St. Mary Catholic Secondary School over the years is a tribute to the vision, sacrifices and commitment of the Catholic people of Hamilton-Wentworth. Today St. Mary Catholic Secondary School proudly stands as a community wherein all who come can Grow in Grace and Wisdom.
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School came into being in 1970, upon the closure of Loretto Academy on King Street West. St. Mary Catholic Secondary School was established in the former elementary school of Christ the King.
Under Father Fergus Duffy, the first Principal, the school community quickly outgrew its temporary home, and in 1980 moved to the site of the former Hamilton Teacher's College, near the McMaster University Campus. The newer facility was blessed by Bishop Paul Reding and housed 500 students and 25 staff. The increasing demands for Catholic Education resulted in the school population reaching over 1000 students and the growth of a portable classroom city.
Because of the overcrowding, and with increased funding from the province, the Separate School Board was able to make plans for a new school in 1992.
The new site was blessed by Bishop Anthony Tonnos and the new St. Mary Catholic Secondary School became a reality. After a journey of over three decades, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School is now located in a magnificent building, on a beautifully landscaped lot, at the corner of Whitney Avenue and Rifle Range Road in West Hamilton.
Sports and other activities
St. Mary has many excellent sports, which have won the school numerous and consecutive titles in the OFSAA, GHAC, HWRCSSB, SOSI, HWCDSB, and many City titles. As well, St. Mary has an illustrious history in the arts.
Football
St. Mary's Crusaders have won championships in 2003, 2002, 1999, and 1992.
Track and Field
Track and Field is an area of the richest tradition for St. Mary's, with the school's athletes consistently placing at the city, regional, and provincial levels. The most decorated sprinter in St. Mary's storied history is Greg Hayes, once provincially and nationally revered for his 200-meter and 400-meter prowess. To date, the most decisive win in St. Mary's history was the 2005 GHAC 4x100-meter Senior Men's relay. The men's team, consisting of first-leg Cameron Lowe, second-leg Daniel Bragagnolo, third-leg Connor Ofield, and anchor-leg Clark Chami, beat competing teams by nearly a full second in the final round, a final round still regarded as one of the most competitive the region has ever seen.
Basketball
St. Mary's girls basketball is the most decorated basketball program in the province. They currently hold 27 girls' championship titles. Recently, the St. Mary senior girls' basketball team beat out their local rival, Westdale Warriors, for the SOSI Super 12 Senior Girls' Basketball Tournament.
Hockey
Allan Bester, retired NHL Netminder for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars is an Alumnus of the school.
Rowing
St. Mary rowing/crew program has had a great deal of success at both the provincial and national level, most notably with St. Mary Women’s Crew winning four consecutive women’s overall Canadian National Championships (rewarded based on multiple team results) in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 under the leadership of coach, Kevin Monaco (St. Mary ‘99 and former participant in rowing).
Since 2000, both the men’s and women’s rowing crews have garnered a large participant base at the school and have won multiple overall and team championships and placings at City, Provincial and National events. The woman’s program has captured 12 National Championship titles and 9 City Championship titles, while the men’s program earned its first National Championship title in 2005 and has won numerous City Championships in the same span of time.
Participants in St. Mary’s rowing program have gone on to earn athletic honours at the collegiate, national, and international level. Notable graduates of the St. Mary rowing program include:
Joe Stankevicius: 2002 & 2003 World Champion (Canada - Men's Heavyweight 8+) and 2004 Olympian; Royal Henley and Royal Canadian Henley Champion.
Jenny Hogsden: 2006 Member of the Women's National Lightweight Team; 2006 Queen's Top Female Athlete; 2006 Recipient of the Tony Zasada Award; 2005 Rowing Canada Sculler of the Year; 2004 Rowing Canada and RowOntario Crew of the Year; 5 Time Ontario University Champion, 2 Time Canadian University Champion; and 9 Time Royal Canadian Henley Champion
Soccer
The soccer teams of St. Mary have been some of the best in Hamilton, with numerous city titles and other OFSAA and GHAC Championship titles. Several of the Crusader players have gone on to play CIS and NCAA soccer.
The Crusader Teams have been OFSAA "AAA" Champions in 1992, 2000 and 2006, while capturing Bronze medals in 2004 and 2003.
Drama
St. Mary has a tradition of participating in the Ontario Sears Drama Festival, and has won numerous awards such as Best Actor and Best Original Script.