De La Salle College

History

Early history

De La Salle College "Oaklands" was founded by, and continues to be administered by, the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It is part of a global community of Lasallian educational institutions that are assisted by more than 73,000 lay colleagues and teach over 900,000 students in over 80 countries, varying from teaching in impoverished nations like Nigeria to post-secondary institutions like La Salle University (Philadelphia), Bethlehem University and De La Salle University-Manila.

The central administration of the Brothers operates out of the Generalate in Rome and is made up of the Superior General and his councillors. From 1851 to the present day, the Brothers based in English Canada have provided assistance in creating 58 schools, ("Lasallian Educational Apostolates") primarily in Ontario, along with a few schools in Edmonton, Montreal, Saskatchewan and Cleveland, Ohio.

The Brothers of the Christian Schools arrived in Montreal in 1837 and founded the first permanent community of LaSallian Brothers in North America. At the request of Bishop Charbonnel, five Brothers came to Toronto in 1851 and established a grammar school at the corner of Lombard and Jarvis Streets. In September of that year, the Brothers extended their ministry to St. Paul's School, which is still in existence today. Among their early graduates was Denis T. O'Connor, who became the first Canadian-born Archbishop of Toronto in 1899.

The Brothers opened their own secondary school in 1863 on Jarvis Street, originally called the Christian Brothers Commercial Academy. In 1871, the school constructed a new building on Duke Street (258 Adelaide St. East today), and the name was changed to De La Salle Institute. The institute purchased the former post office next door (First Toronto Post Office) in 1874.

Twenty years later, the school was extended to include secondary education and took over the former Bank of Upper Canada building next door. 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. The three-building site still stands at the corner of Adelaide and George Streets as 252–264 Adelaide Street East.

The next major step occurred in 1913, when De La Salle College took over part of the 67 Bond Street building adjacent to St. Michael's Cathedral. In 1916, the College vacated the buildings on Adelaide Street. In 1925, the senior section was relocated to De La Salle Moore Park, in what is now Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. In 1932 and 1933, these classes were moved to nearby De La Salle College "Oaklands", which had opened in 1931.

Later history: "Oaklands"

Located in Deer Park, an estate named "Oaklands" was once part of the Crown land that was deeded in 1798 to the Honourable John Elmsley. In 1858, John Macdonald — a dry goods merchant who would become the only Liberal appointee to the Senate by Canada's founding Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald — acquired 35 acres (140,000 m2) of it from the Anglican Church and built what is at present the residence of the Brothers. This land ran up the east side of College Avenue (now Avenue Road) from what is today Cottingham Street to St. Clair Avenue. He named the property "Oaklands" due to the splendid abundance of oak trees in the area.

Construction of Macdonald's mansion on the property at the crest of the hill, begun in 1860, was completed with a tower observatory that would provide him with a clear view of Lake Ontario some 5 kilometres to the south. Currently, the Oaklands mansion has been designated as a historical building by the City of Toronto, as an example of local Gothic Revival architecture. The property was purchased in 1905 by the family of Cyrus McCormick, whose farm implement business evolved to become International Harvester. The home was used by Mary Virginia McCormick, who was the eldest daughter of Cyrus McCormick.

The Brothers of the Christian Schools bought 12 acres (4.9 ha) of the property in 1931 and turned it into a boys' school. Three benefactors (T. P. Phelan, Abe Orpen and Frank O'Connor) paid the interest on the property's CA$300,000 mortgage for three years to help establish the school. Brother Alfred was the guiding genius in acquiring the property and became the school's first Director/Principal. In its first year, the school was home to 270 students and had matriculation classes ranging from Grade 5 through to Grade 10. Ten years later, grades 1 through 4 were added. In 1970, the first 5 grades were phased out, leaving only Grades 6, 7 and 8 in addition to the full high school curriculum.

The school's primary focus is its emphasis on academia above all other matters. Traditionally, all graduates advance to universities in Canada and the United States; it is a very rare occurrence for a student to matriculate and not proceed to university.

Oaklands had also fostered a reputation for its musicals and drama efforts which, for the most part, commenced in 1951 and carry on to the present day. As well, its student-run newspaper, Oakleaves, which has provided commentary about the school's goings-on since 1931.

Since 1994

In 1993, the school began considering whether it should leave the MSSB. That same year in a letter on June 28, the school notified the MSSB that as of June 30, 1994, Oaklands would re-privatize. 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 a private, independent, now co-educational, university preparatory school. The school had planned to do a "phase-out" to allow existing students to continue going to a public separate school, but by 1994, Brother Francis McCrea delivered a letter to the MSSB on February 21, 1994 that stated the school would not participate in a phase-out. De La Salle had decided not to do a phase-out, and each student was willing to pay $6,300 per year in tuition, prompting protests from some parents. By December 1993, there was a proposed plan to allow the MSSB to pay for the continuing education of existing De La Salle pupils.

In order to serve the needs of its existing students at the time of re-privatization, the Brothers of the Christian Schools funded financial assistance, from full scholarships to partial scholarships, to any existing advanced-level student who wished to stay enrolled at the school. In all, 58 students accepted the Brothers' offer. Today, the school provides numerous bursaries and scholarships, such as the Superior General's Scholarship which finances a students full tuition, to ensure that lesser-advantaged students have reasonable access to the school as was the Brothers' practice in the pre-MSSB era. As well, Oaklands strives to maintain its tuition levels to be among the lowest for independent secondary schools in the Greater Toronto Area — approximately $15,000 per academic year, in keeping with their Founder's ideals of accessibility to all students.

De La Salle's replacement and successor school in the area on Avenue Road north of Eglinton, Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School, was opened in 1998 in the former Toronto Hunt Club. This co-educational high school has since served grades 9 to 12.

Overview

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 majestic oaks still stand, providing the ideal setting for study. There are eight major areas to the campus:

Main Building (which includes senior school classrooms, administration, auditorium, gymnasium and chapel)

Innovation Centre (which includes science labs, computer lab, study area, robotics workshop and offices)

Oaklands Stadium

The "Bubble" (indoor sport court)

John Hunt Student Life Centre (previously the Arena, currently under construction)

Music Hall (previously the De La Salle Student Centre)

Brother Domenic Viggiani FSC Heritage House

Gate House

In 2005, the school completed construction of its outdoor, all-purpose gym/tennis courts/batting cages. As of September 2015, the school completed installation of its new artificial turf playing field.

In the summer of 2023, The school's President announced plans to reconstruct the Arena into the new Student Life Centre, this is planned to include; a student commons area, offices and gyms. In 2024 the started construction with the president breaking ground.

Athletics

The college formerly operated a junior ice hockey team from the 1910s to 1940s in the Ontario Hockey Association. The College won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as the playoffs champions in 1918. Alumni from the junior hockey team who later played in the National Hockey League include, Babe Dye, Red Green, Jack Ingoldsby, Duke McCurry, Eddie Rodden, Sid Smith and Jesse Spring.

De La Salle "Oaklands" have won multiple city and provincial championships (particularly in hockey and football) in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. After the school had re-privatized in 1994, its initial efforts on the competitive playing fields were pale in comparison to its rich history. However, by the year 2000, teams from De La Salle were beginning to be noticed. Teams such as the Girls and Boys Varsity Hockey, Boys Varsity Basketball, Girls Volleyball, and Girls Soccer were regularly advancing far into the playoffs of their respective leagues, with some making their way to the OFSAA championships. In the fall of 2002, its Senior Boys football team made its improbable run to upset heavily favoured Upper Canada College and St. Andrews College for the CISAA championship, and then beat Markham, Lakeshore Catholic, and Nelson for the Ontario Golden Horseshoe Bowl (regional championships).

From 1952 to 1957, the school's senior football team was coached by Toronto Argonauts legendary quarterback Nobby Wirkowski

and won consecutive league championships in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Brother Arthur Tournament

Every December, Oaklands hosts an invitational hockey tournament named after Brother Arthur Brockman (1915–1979). The tournament began a year after his death and is held annually to this day.

Debating Society

De La Salle's Debating Society actively participates in numerous public speaking and debating tournaments, Canada-wide and internationally. De La Salle is a member of both the Fulford League and the Pro-Con League in Toronto. Former student Connor Campbell (2013) won the Debate Champion title at the 2012 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC) in Brisbane, Australia and the World Champion title at the 2013 WIDPSC Championship in Durban, South Africa. Del student Megan Campbell (2019) won the 2018 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship in Cape Town, South Africa—the first time ever in the 31-year history of the event that a brother and sister have each won the World Champion title. Megan accomplished this in Grade 11.

Oak Leaves

Oak Leaves began as the school's student paper in 1938 and is still published today. It has won recognition from the Columbia University Literary Society and the Canadian School Papers Association not only for its appearance, but also for its journalistic qualities of writing and layout.

In response to the pandemic in the fall of 2021, Oak Leaves published its first-ever online publication. Each stage of production shifted to a virtual setting, embracing the mix of mediums that technology brings to this classic form of school-wide communication. The Editors in Chief worked closely with the Oak Leaves team to uphold the highest journalistic standards of its writers and editors in this new format.

Student life

De La Salle 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 participated 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. Following the Second World War, the Cadet Corps was disbanded December 1, 1947, and perpetuated in the De La Salle Drum and Bugle Corps — which grew to great renown in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

The Oaklands Cadets reformed September, 2004 by petition of Oaklands Lasallian student Mena Ghabbour. The Cadet Corps is independent and is not associated to the Canadian Cadet Organizations sponsored by the Army Cadet, Air Cadet and Navy League in partnership with the Canadian Forces. The president, Brother Domenic Viggiani, FSC is the Corps' Honorary 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 military model is used to help further develop the values of honesty, loyalty, integrity, and intelligent obedience, as well as the academic prowess and physical fitness that it entails. 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.

Drum and Bugle Corps

In 1958, with the dissolution of the De La Salle Band, the De La Salle Oaklands Drum and Bugle Corps was born. Different from a traditional marching band, the Drum Corps (as they became known) played modern music with quick-paced formations that were clearly designed for crowd appeal. In their first 2 years, the Drum Corps placed 3rd in the Junior A National Championships. From 1961 to 1965, the Drum Corps would finish in 2nd at the Canadian National Championships and finally in 1969, would win the National Championships. They would go on to win consecutive national championships in 1970, 1971 and 1973.

De La Salle Camp

A boys' camp was opened by the Brothers in 1916 on the shores of Lake Simcoe at Jackson's Point, Ontario. Following a fire in November 1931, the camp re-opened the next summer with newly built facilities. It continued operating until 1980 when most of the property was sold to Georgina Township. It is now a town park.

Boarders

Boarders were commonplace at De La Salle dating back to 1871. At Oaklands, boarders first occupied 6 rooms at the Brothers' residence. The school opened its Junior Hall on what is now the arena grounds in 1936 and two years later, the house at 423 Avenue Road was leased, then purchased to house students.

The Gate House at the property's south-west corner (which stood guard over Senator MacDonald's original still-standing ornate entrance) was converted for student housing. Also, an exclusive home donated to the Brothers by the late Senator Frank O'Connor at his Wexford estate was converted to student housing. With the onset of the MSSBs participation at Oaklands in 1967 (which resulted in an influx of more locally based students), the need for boarders at the school had diminished and eventually, the programme was phased out.

Theatre De La Salle

Brother Gabriel Ray became well known for his dramatic productions, which were originally staged at Massey Hall. Except for four-year hiatus, Brother Gabriel was on the staff of De La Salle Bond Street from its opening in 1914 until 1932. He published three short volumes on Shakespearean characters and was well known for the following productions which were staged at Massey Hall:

1922 Shattered Dreams - written by Brother Gabriel

1923 Hamlet

1924 Merchant of Venice

1925 Macbeth (with 4,500 people in attendance)

1926 Passion Play

The "Oaklands" Auditorium

It was to Brother Gabriel's credit that the new school on the current campus opened in 1950 with its own auditorium. At his insistence, the new school building was to have an auditorium separate from a gymnasium and that it be a specific size. This is why the auditorium extends beyond the rest of the building. The home of what was later to be known was Theatre De La Salle had a sloping floor, an orchestra pit, a large marble foyer, and a balcony. The official opening of the auditorium was a formal occasion with dignitaries on hand as well as a ribbon-cutting ceremony to separate the curtains which were a gift of the class of 1920.

Brother Gabriel directed the first two dramatic productions Cinderella O’Reilly (1951) and Dear Ruth (1952).

Brother Andrew spent his first year at Del (1950–1951) developing a glee club and an orchestra before staging the first of his five annual Gilbert and Sullivan musical productions. The female chorus was made up of soprano-voiced boys from the grade school dressed up as girls. The female leads were played by young ladies from local Catholic high schools. By 1954, Brother Andrew had built the student orchestra to 34 members.

Brother Walter Farrell replaced Brother Andrew as musical director, and in 1958 produced the first of his ten musicals. The popular scores of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein counted for eight well-received productions. In 1960, the Toronto Star reviewed Oklahoma with these words:

Notable alumni

Carl Brewer, NHL Defenceman Toronto Maple Leafs 1958–1980

Robert Chisholm, vice chair, retired, Bank of Nova Scotia

Tony Comper, '63, president and chief executive officer, retired, Bank of Montreal

Andy Curran, musician

Steven Del Duca, politician, Leader of Liberal Party of Ontario 2020–2022,

Red Green, '18, NHL Forward 1923–1929

Kris Draper, '90, NHL Forward Detroit Red Wings 1990 to 2011

John D'Amico, NHL Referee / Linesman, Member Hockey Hall of Fame, 1937–2005

Rishi Ganjoo, '91, frontman of the Toronto-based rock trio Danko Jones

Jamal Mayers, NHL Forward St. Louis Blues, 1996–2007 Toronto Maple Leafs 2008, Calgary Flames 2010, Chicago Blackhawks 2011–2013

Dennis O'Connor, Associate Chief Justice – Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Judge – Court of Appeal for Ontario

Dennis T. O'Connor, Archbishop of Toronto 1899–1908

Richard Park, '94, NHL Forward New York Islanders 1994–1996, Anaheim Ducks 1997–1998, Philadelphia Flyers 1999, Minnesota Wild 2001–2004, Vancouver Canucks 2005, New York Islanders 2006–2010, Pittsburgh Penguins 2012

Keanu Reeves, actor

Tim Ryan, '56, sportscaster for CBS Sports