Riverdale Collegiate Institute

Riverdale Collegiate Institute (Riverdale CI, RCI, or Riverdale) is a semester high school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by the Toronto Board of Education until its amalgamation in 1998 into the Toronto District School Board.[6]

Riverdale Collegiate Institute
Address
Map
1094 Gerrard Street East

, ,
Canada
Coordinates43°40′12″N 79°20′05″W / 43.669921°N 79.334856°W / 43.669921; -79.334856
Information
School typePublic High school
MottoStudia Adolescentiam Alunt
(Education Nourishes Youth)
FoundedMay 12, 1907; 116 years ago (May 12, 1907)
School boardToronto District School Board
(Toronto Board of Education)
SuperintendentBelinda Longe[1]
Area trusteeJennifer Story[1]
School number5555 / 939080[2]
PrincipalJohn Au[1]
Grades9–12
Enrolment1520[3] (2021)
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)
SongRiverdale School Song (Tune: Anchors Aweigh)
Team nameRiverdale Rams[citation needed]
NewspaperThe Riverdale Spectator[4]
YearbookThe Reveille[5]
Websiteschoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/riverdale

History and overview edit

Riverdale Collegiate was founded in 1907.[7][8] Then known as Riverdale Technical School, the facility was designed by the architect for the Board of Education, C.E.C. Dyson.[9] In the nineteen-nineties it was extensively renovated but the original facade was maintained.[10]

On May 17, 2006, the first annual United Games were hosted at Riverdale. This was a day-long event also including students from Eastern Commerce, Monarch Park and DCTI. Former NBA star Jerome Williams acted as principal for the day.[11] His activities included a presentation speaking out against violence,[12] barbecuing lunch with students, and overseeing games designed to build relationships between the schools by forming teams with students from all four schools, rather than having a team for each school.[13]

Riverdale provides numerous sports teams and clubs throughout the year. Some big sports include field hockey, swim team, cross country, track and field, volleyball, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, and badminton.[14] There are also many clubs including The Riverdale Athletic Association (RAA),[14] Riverdale Robotics (R3P2),[15] Riverdale Environmental Action League (R.E.A.L),[1] Free the Children,[14] Students Against Sexual Stereotype Discrimination (SASSD),[1] and the Chinese Culture Club.[14]

Riverdale Collegiate celebrated its centennial on May 12, 2007.[16][17]

On February 10, 2015, it was reported that the TDSB was launching a review of schools for possible closure.[18] Riverdale Collegiate Institute was incorrectly listed out of a possible seventy schools which the TDSB considers under-used and under review. Riverdale Collegiate Institute was over capacity at 103%[19] at the time of the erroneous news reporting and was included as part of the Pupil Accommodation Review mandated by the Ministry of Education to ensure that "school boards make more efficient use of school space while continuing to ensure that communities have the opportunity to provide meaningful input."[20]

Notable alumni edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Studia Adolescentiam Alunt". Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, March 2008" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Education Quality and Accountability Office. June 11, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Student Population". Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Toronto District School Board. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  4. ^ "The Riverdale Spectator". Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ^ "General Information For Students And Parents 2014–2015" (PDF). Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  6. ^ The Road Ahead – IV: A Report on Improving Schools Through Greater Accountability: The Fourth Report of the Education Improvement Commission. Toronto: Education Improvement Commission. April 13, 2000. ISBN 0777894475.
  7. ^ "The History of the RCI Building". Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Archived from the original on 14 March 2001. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  8. ^ Hardy, Edwin Austin (1950). Cochrane, Honora M. (ed.). Centennial Story: The Board of Education for the City of Toronto 1850-1950. Toronto, ON: Thomas Nelson & Sons (Canada) Limited.
  9. ^ "Riverdale Technical School, Greenwood Avenue, Toronto, Architect: C.E.C. Dyson (architect for the Board of Education)". Construction (Toronto). 17 (6). Toronto: 185–86. June 1924.
  10. ^ Levy, Joel (12 January 2013). "Riverdale Neighbourhood". Toronto Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Raptors' Williams to serve as Riverdale CI Principal tomorrow". CNW Group. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  12. ^ Reveille 2006, Pages 70–71 (School Yearbook)
  13. ^ Reinhart, Anthony (18 May 2006). "Schools team up to fight violence". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b c d "Riverdale Collegiate Institute 2014–2015 Also Offers" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Riverdale Robotics". riverdalerobotics.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  16. ^ "Riverdale Collegiate celebrates 100th anniversary". InsideToronto.com. East York Mirror. May 3, 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  17. ^ Chan, Tony (May 12, 2007). "Photo Album". Riverdale Collegiate Alumni Association. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  18. ^ "TDSB names 10 more schools for possible closure". CBC News. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Some schools facing possible closure overcrowded, others, not so much". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  20. ^ Ontario, Government of. "Pupil Accommodation Reviews". www.edu.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  21. ^ Martin, Sandra (October 19, 2012). "Obituary: Former lieutenant-governor took discrimination as personal challenge". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  22. ^ a b Hanley, William (5 May 2007). "High School Daze". National Post.
  23. ^ Andrew-Gee, Eric (18 December 2014). "Mystery of the Billy Harris donations solved: Proudfoot Corner". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Michael Ironside (Born Frederick Ironside) Riverdale Collegiate Institute "Reveille" Riverdale Collegiate Yearbook Photos (High School) Toronto". PBase. Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Thomas Pashby Obituary". Legacy.com. The Globe and Mail. 2005. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  26. ^ Scanlan, Wayne (24 November 2017). "Football glory days a fading memory for Ronnie Stewart". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 8 February 2018.

External links edit