Harman Patil (Editor)

Western Canada High School

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Established
  
1903

Enrollment
  
2056 (2015)

Principal
  
Martin Poirier

Grades
  
10-12

Phone
  
+1 403-228-5363

Number of students
  
2,056 (2015)

Western Canada High School

Type
  
Private (1903 - 1928, as Western Canada College)Public (since 1928)

Motto
  
Motto: Intelligentia, Vires, Virtus(Latin for: Understanding, Strength, Courage)

School board
  
Calgary Board of Education

Address
  
641 17 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0B5, Canada

Western canada high school senior boys rit intro


Western Canada High School (WCHS) is a public senior high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has classes for grades 10 through 12. Western is located in the 17th Avenue business district of the Lower Mount Royal community, and is the most centrally located public high school in Calgary.

Contents

Western canada high school senior girls rit intro


History

The original school building was completed in 1903 as a British-style exclusive high school for boys called Western Canada College (not a college in the North American sense of the word). It was created by "The Western Canada College Bill of Incorporating Ordinance" enacted by the Government of the Northwest Territories, which Calgary was then a part of before the province of Alberta was created in 1905. To raise funds for the new college, 5000 shares were sold for $10 each. Many of the original investors read like a "Who's Who" list for Alberta; Pat Burns, R. B. Bennett, A.E. Cross, William Pearce, A.C. Rutherford (who was premier at the time), and George Lane.

A granite shaft bearing a Cross of Sacrifice was dedicated as a list of honour memorial to Western Canada College students who were killed during the First World War and who served during the Second World War, the Korean War and as peacekeepers.

The private school had financial problems and was sold to the Calgary Board of Education. The CBE renamed it, re-opened it as public school, and constructed additional buildings on the land.

Western was Calgary's first composite high school, providing both technical and academic courses of study. The school has been substantially renovated and additions have been made to the building over the years. Linda Raasveldt became the first female principal of the school in 2002. The school recently underwent a series of renovations which were completed in Fall 2012.

Special Programs

The school provides French and English language as a primary language instruction. In addition, it is one of a select number of schools in Calgary to offer French immersion. Western is one of a small number of Calgary high schools to offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme Each year, about 20-40 students graduate with an IB Diploma, and significantly more graduate with an IB certificate. The school also offers an extensive performing and visual arts program, and offers a certificate to recognize students that have made fine arts a focus of learning at the high school level. The school is part of the Action for Bright Children Society.

Athletics

The Western Redhawks compete under the governance of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association and Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association

The school boasts teams in the following sports:

  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Swim and Dive
  • Track and Field
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling
  • Dance
  • Notable alumni

  • Ron Allbright - CFL player 1956-1967
  • Conrad Bain - actor
  • Ryan Belleville - actor, writer
  • Barney Bentall - singer/songwriter
  • Braids - art rock band
  • Jim Dinning - Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta 1986–1997
  • Emerson Frostad - baseball player
  • George Hansen - CFL player 1959-1966
  • Dan Hays - Senator 1984-2007
  • Pat Kelly - comedian, actor, and TV host.
  • Norman Kwong - CFL player 1948-1960; Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2005-2010
  • Jack Leslie - Mayor of Calgary 1965-1969
  • Jan Lisiecki - concert pianist
  • Carl O. Nickle - founder of the Daily Oil Bulletin; Member of Parliament 1951-1957
  • Taheer Nurani - actor and entrepreneur
  • Suzette Mayr - novelist and poet
  • Ryan Northcott, actor
  • Mark Oldershaw - athlete and businessman
  • Larry Robinson - CFL player 1961-1975
  • Kinnie Starr - singer/songwriter
  • David Swann - politician, father of Jacob Swan
  • Reid Duke - first hockey player signed by the Las Vegas Golden Knights
  • Taryn Swiatek - soccer player
  • References

    Western Canada High School Wikipedia