Celebrating almost 200 years of Upper Canada College history
The 1800s
1829:
Upper Canada College is established with an initial enrolment of 57 boys. Classes are temporarily located at the Royal Grammar School at Jarvis and Lombard, until the Russell Square Campus opens in September 1831. Russell Square is bound by King Street West, Adelaide, Simcoe and John
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1829: UCC founded by Sir John Colborne, lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada; Rev. Joseph H. Harris appointed UCC principal
1830: Jan. 4, 57 boys register for their first day at UCC
1839: Rev. John McCaul appointed second UCC principal
1843: Frederick W. Barron appointed third UCC principal
1857: First College Times publishes, now the longest running student publication in Canada; Alexander Robert Dunn, Class of 1844, is first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross; Rev. Walter Stennett appointed fourth UCC principal
1861: George R. Cockburn appointed fifth UCC principal
1863: Sir John Colborne dies
1866: Queen’s Own Rifles affiliation begins
1867: James Cockburn, Class of 1833, plays a major role in the confederation of the Dominion of Canada
1881: John Milne Buchan appointed sixth UCC principal
1885: George Dickson appointed seventh UCC principal
1890: First UCC hockey team is formed
1891: July 3, last day at Russell Square site at King and Simcoe Streets
1891: Oct. 14, official opening of Deer Park building
1895: George R. Parkin appointed eighth UCC principal
1898: The Gate House, formerly "The Lodge" was built and is the oldest building on campus
The Turn of the Century
1901: Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, Class of 1881, awarded Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Leliefontein during the Second Boer War
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1901: Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, Class of 1881, awarded the Victoria Cross
1902: First Preparatory School building opens; Henry W. Auden appointed ninth UCC principal
1902: Former UCC principal Sir George Parkin is tasked with much of the organization and implementation of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship Program in Canada
1913: Norval property purchased; first Norval picnic
1914-1918: First World War breaks out and approximately 1,100 UCC students, faculty and staff members enlist; 179 fall in service
1917: William Grant appointed 10th principal of UCC
1918: UCC's first female teacher, Mary Tucker, is hired to teach science
1920: House system begins with four: Martland's, Jackson's, Wedd's and Seaton's
1922: Lieutenant-governor Henry Cockshutt lays the cornerstone for the second Prep building, the Parkin Building
1923: Parkin Building opens
1932: Separate boarding houses open
1933: First Old Boys Association “Hockey Night”
1935: Terence MacDermot appointed 11th principal of UCC
1938: New Upper School gym and swimming pool open
1939: Norval House opens; first Leaving Class gift presented
1942: Lorne McKenzie appointed 12th principal of UCC
1939-1944: Just over 1,500 UCC students, faculty and Old Boys sign up to serve in the Second World War; 128 lose their lives
30% of Canadian Generals in WW2 were UCC Old Boys, underlying UCC’s centuries of commitment to leadership and service
1948: Rev. Cedric Sowby appointed 13th principal of UCC
The 1950s
1951: Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent lays cornerstone for Memorial Wing at the Upper School
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1951: Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent lays the cornerstone for the Memorial Wing at the Upper School
1954: Prep gym opens
1955: First outdoor artificial rink opens. HRH Prince Philip named the Official Visitor of the College
1958: March 11, Upper School building condemned; March 12, Upper School evacuated
1959: HRH Prince Philip visits for the first time in June
The 1960s
1960: New Upper School opens, including Rogers’ Clock Tower
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1960: New Upper School opens, Rogers Clock Tower opens with guests Vincent Massey and Edward Peacock; Dedication of All Hallows Chapel. Opening of Laidlaw Hall
1962: The Sir Edward Peacock Building officially named after renovations
1963: 50th anniversary Norval picnic
1964: Norval Arboretum and Stephen House established
Former Senator and Speaker of the House of Commons, The Honourable Alan A. MacNaughton, Class of 1921, is instrumental in shepherding in a new Canadian flag; he is awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994
1965: Patrick Johnson appointed 14th principal of UCC
1967: Stephen House architect, Blake Millar (UCC 1945-54), awarded the Massey Medal for excellence in architecture
1967: Grade 13 provincial exams dropped
1969: Old Boys’ Association becomes UCC Association and includes parents and Old Boys; active outdoor education program developed under the first Norval director, Bruce Littlejohn
The 1970s
1971: “Program for UCC” established to raise funds for Macintosh Library, Lecture Theatre and Patrick Johnson Arena; the Honourable Pauline McGibbon, chancellor of the University of Toronto, appointed as first woman on UCC’s Board of Governors
Read More
1971: “Program for UCC” to raise funds for the libraries, lecture theatre and Patrick Johnson Arena; First woman on board of governors, the Honourable Pauline McGibbon, 1971-74, ex officio appointment of chancellor of the University of Toronto
1973: Official opening of Macintosh Library
1974: Richard H. Sadlier appointed 15th principal of UCC
1977: Sandi Ryder becomes the first elected woman on Board of Governors; the top floor of the Memorial Wing converted to apartments
1978: UCC Summer Camps begin
1979: UCC’s 150th anniversary. HRH Prince Philip visits the College and attends the first Association Day
The 1980s
1980: New science labs installed in Upper School
Read More
1981: Boarding ends at the Prep School
1984: First World Affairs Conference held
1988: Eric Barton appointed 16th principal of UCC; Don Kawasoe becomes the first on-site director to expand programs at Norval Outdoor School to allow adventure-based programming
The 1990s
1993: The Hewitt Centre, Eaton Building and Mara Gates officially open on October 9, with a dedication ceremony by HRH Prince Philip
Read More
1990: J. Douglas Blakey appointed 17th principal of UCC
1992: Hewitt Athletic Centre opens; Eaton Building opens at Prep; First Grandparents’ Day at the Prep
1993: Oct. 9, HRH Prince Philip opens new buildings (Hewitt Centre, Eaton Building and Mara Gates)
1995: UCC becomes an IB school; the Prep library renovated and reopens as Wilder Library
1998: First IB diplomas granted; Grade 2 introduced; First annual Leaving Class dinner, sponsored by the UCC Association
1999: Primary wing renovations; Grade 1 introduced; Creativity Centre opens; Horizons Program created as a partnership with the Toronto District School Board
The 2000s
2001: Wernham West Centre for Learning opens, thanks to a landmark gift from Richard Wernham and Julia West
Read More
2001: Wernham West Centre for Learning opens
2002: Prep 100th anniversary
2003: Senior Kindergarten introduced
2004–05: College’s 175th anniversary; Dr. Jim Power appointed 18th principal of UCC
2006: The Oval receives an artificial turf surface; two Victoria Crosses go on long-term loan to the Canadian War Museum
2007: UCC’s gay-straight alliance is established
2009: William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex officially opens; Strength, Agility & Speed Fitness Centre opens at Upper School
The 2010s
2012: Proceeds from the "Believe in Blue" Gala support the creation of the Upper School science wing, scholarships and boarding
Read More
2012: Proceeds from "Believe in Blue" Gala support Upper School science wing, scholarships and boarding
2013: 100th anniversary of Norval Outdoor School
2014: First Lang Scholars graduate; Rao Family Cup established to promote boarding houses' rivalry; boarding houses and Upper School's second floor renovations
2015: Gatehouse Family Daycare closed; Upper School main floor renovations; UCC's $104-million Think Ahead campaign concludes
2016: Sam McKinney appointed 19th principal of UCC; Cookie Monster mascot retires
2017: Recognizing the tremendous importance of Canada’s Indigenous culture, and appreciating the history of the land on which it sits, UCC issues a formal “acknowledgement of traditional land” and its Council for Reconciliation is established; New mascot, "Ice the Husky" debuts at Winterfest
2018: Strategic Directions: Towards 2029 is launched; Summer Life debuts, a camps-boarding program for international students; Atkins Family Design Lab opens in the Upper School; Years 6 through 9 start the IB's Middle Years Programme; Launch of the Casey Fellows Program for Mental Health and Student Wellbeing
2019: Newly renovated Manucha & Bellamy Studio Theatre opens at the Upper School; The Hixon Family Design Lab is unveiled at the Preparatory School; The Oval's artificial turf is replaced thanks to a generous donation
2020: Refurbished Parkin Wing opens at the Preparatory School; UCC receives IB MYP authorization and becomes the first boys’ school in North America to deliver all three IB programmes
The 2020s
2020–21: UCC classes go virtual with the COVID pandemic
Read More
2020–21: UCC classes go virtual with the COVID pandemic
2021: UCC’s longest-serving official visitor, Prince Philip, passes away
2022: Renovation of the Upper School East Wing
2023: Opening of the Lindsay Boathouse in Toronto’s Outer Harbour Marina
2024: Renovation of the varsity locker room and state-of-the-art scoreboard added; Brenda & Reid Chen Innovation Lab at the Prep opens its doors; A range of new sustainability initiatives undertaken
2025: UCC is one of four schools globally to launch of IB DP Systems Transformation Graduation Pathway; Establishment of Tanenbaum Inspire Fund and the Tanenbaum-Hutcheson Director of Partnerships and Social Impact; Inaugural Coxford Lecture held with 24th Western Chancellor Kelly Meighen
2026: Opening of the Prep’s Math and Science Learning Community; Launch of the Lang Leadership Lab Summer Institute for students from across Canada and around the world; Junior Kindergarten starts at UCC
IN THIS SECTION
Milestone Moments
Celebrating almost 200 years of Upper Canada College history
The 1800s
1829: Upper Canada College is established with an initial enrolment of 57 boys. Classes are temporarily located at the Royal Grammar School at Jarvis and Lombard, until the Russell Square Campus opens in September 1831. Russell Square is bound by King Street West, Adelaide, Simcoe and John
Read More
1829:UCC founded by Sir John Colborne, lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada; Rev. Joseph H. Harris appointed UCC principal
1830: Jan. 4, 57 boys register for their first day at UCC
1839: Rev. John McCaul appointed second UCC principal
1843: Frederick W. Barron appointed third UCC principal
1857:: First College Times publishes, now the longest running student publication in Canada; Alexander Robert Dunn 1844 is first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross; Rev. Walter Stennett appointed fourth UCC principal
1861: George R. Cockburn appointed fifth UCC principal
1863: Sir John Colborne dies
1866:Queen’s Own Rifles affiliation begins
1867: James Cockburn 1833 plays a major role in the confederation of the Dominion of Canada
1881: John Milne Buchan appointed sixth UCC principal
1885: George Dickson appointed seventh UCC principal
1890: First UCC hockey team is formed
1891: July 3, last day at Russell Square site at King and Simcoe Streets
1891: Oct. 14, official opening of Deer Park building
1895: George R. Parkin appointed eighth principal of UCC
1898: The Gate House, formerly "The Lodge" was built and is the oldest building on campus
The Turn of the Century
1901: Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, Class of 1881, awarded Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of Leliefontein during the Second Boer War
Read More
1901: Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn, Class of 1881, awarded the Victoria Cross
1902: First Preparatory School building opens; Henry W. Auden appointed ninth UCC principal
1902: Former UCC principal Sir George Parkin is tasked with much of the organization and implementation of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship Program in Canada
1913: Norval property purchased; first Norval picnic
1914-1918:First World War breaks out and approximately 1,100 UCC students, faculty and staff members enlist; 179 fall in service
1917: William Grant appointed 10th principal of UCC
1918: UCC's first female teacher, Mary Tucker, is hired to teach science
1920: House system begins with four: Martland's, Jackson's, Wedd's and Seaton's
1922:Lieutenant-governor Henry Cockshutt lays the cornerstone for the second Prep building, the Parkin Building
1923: Parkin Building opens
1932: Separate boarding houses open
1933:First Old Boys Association “Hockey Night”
1935: Terence MacDermot appointed 11th principal of UCC
1938: New Upper School gym and swimming pool open
1939: Norval House opens; first Leaving Class gift presented
1942: Lorne McKenzie appointed 12th principal of UCC
1939-1944: Just over 1,500 UCC students, faculty and Old Boys sign up to serve in the Second World War; 128 lose their lives
30% of Canadian Generals in WW2 were UCC Old Boys, underlying UCC’s centuries of commitment to leadership and service
1948: Rev. Cedric Sowby appointed 13th UCC principal
The 1950s
1951: Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent lays cornerstone for Memorial Wing at the Upper School
Read More
1951: Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent lays the cornerstone for the Memorial Wing at the Upper School
1954: Prep gym opens
1955: First outdoor artificial rink opens. HRH Prince Philip named the Official Visitor of the College
1958: March 11, Upper School building condemned; March 12, Upper School evacuated
1959: HRH Prince Philip visits for the first time in June
The 1960s
1960: New Upper School opens, including Rogers’ Clock Tower
Read More
1960: New Upper School opens, Rogers Clock Tower opens with guests Vincent Massey and Edward Peacock; Dedication of All Hallows Chapel. Opening of Laidlaw Hall
1962:The Sir Edward Peacock Building officially named after renovations
1963:50th anniversary Norval picnic
1964: Norval Arboretum and Stephen House established
1964: Former Senator and Speaker of the House of Commons, The Honourable Alan A. MacNaughton, Class of 1921, is instrumental in shepherding in a new Canadian flag; he is awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994
1965: Patrick Johnson appointed 14th principal of UCC
1967: Stephen House architect, Blake Millar (UCC 1945-54), awarded the Massey Medal for excellence in architecture
1967: Grade 13 provincial exams dropped
1969:Old Boys’ Association becomes UCC Association and includes parents and Old Boys; active outdoor education program developed under the first Norval director, Bruce Littlejohn
The 1970s
1971: “Program for UCC” to raise funds for Macintosh Library, Lecture Theatre and Patrick Johnson Arena; the Honourable Pauline McGibbon, chancellor of the University of Toronto, appointed as first woman on UCC’s Board of Governors
Read More
1971: “Program for UCC” to raise funds for the libraries, lecture theatre and Patrick Johnson Arena; First woman on board of governors, the Honourable Pauline McGibbon, 1971-74, ex officio appointment of chancellor of the University of Toronto
1973: Official opening of Macintosh Library
1974: Richard H. Sadlier appointed 15th UCC principal
1977: Sandi Ryder becomes the first elected woman on Board of Governors; the top floor of the Memorial Wing converted to apartments
1978:UCC Summer Camps begin
1979: UCC’s 150th anniversary. HRH Prince Philip visits the College and attends the first Association Day
The 1980s
1980: New science labs installed in Upper School
Read More
1981: Boarding ends at the Prep School
1984: First World Affairs Conference held
1988: Eric Barton appointed 16th UCC principal; Don Kawasoe becomes the first on-site director to expand programs at Norval Outdoor School to allow adventure-based programming
The 1990s
1993: The Hewitt Centre, Eaton Building and Mara Gates officially open on October 9, with a dedication ceremony by HRH Prince Philip
Read More
1990: J. Douglas Blakey appointed 17th UCC principal
1992:Hewitt Athletic Centre opens; Eaton Building opens at Prep; First Grandparents’ Day at the Prep
1993: Oct. 9, Prince Philip opens new buildings (Hewitt Centre, Eaton Building and Mara Gates)
1995:UCC becomes an IB school; the Prep library renovated and reopens as Wilder Library
1998: First IB diplomas granted; Grade 2 introduced; First annual Leaving Class dinner, sponsored by the UCC Association
1999: Primary wing renovations; Grade 1 introduced; Creativity Centre opens; Horizons Program created as a partnership with the Toronto District School Board
The 2000s
2001: Wernham West Centre for Learning opens, thanks to a landmark gift from Richard Wernham and Julia West
Read More
2001:Wernham West Centre for Learning opens
2002: Prep 100th anniversary
2003:Senior Kindergarten introduced
2004-05: College’s 175th anniversary; Dr. Jim Power appointed 18th UCC principal
2006: The Oval receives an artificial turf surface; two Victoria Crosses go on long-term loan to the Canadian War Museum
2007:UCC’s gay-straight alliance is established
2009: William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex officially opens; Strength, Agility & Speed Fitness Centre opens at Upper School
The 2010s
2012: Proceeds from "Believe in Blue" Gala support creation of Upper School science wing, scholarships and boarding
Read More
2012: Proceeds from "Believe in Blue" Gala support Upper School science wing, scholarships and boarding
2013: 100th anniversary of Norval Outdoor School
2014:The first Lang Scholars graduate; Rao Family Cup established to promote boarding houses' rivalry; boarding houses and Upper School's second floor renovations
2015: Gatehouse Family Daycare closed; Upper School main floor renovations; UCC's $104-million Think Ahead campaign concludes
2016:Sam McKinney appointed 19th principal of UCC; Cookie Monster mascot retires
2017:Recognizing the tremendous importance of Canada’s Indigenous culture, and appreciating the history of the land on which it sits, UCC issues a formal “acknowledgement of traditional land” and its Council for Reconciliation is established; New mascot, "Ice the Husky" debuts at Winterfest
2018: Strategic Directions: Towards 2029 is launched; Summer Life debuts, a camps-boarding program for international students; Atkins Family Design Lab opens in the Upper School; Years 6 through 9 start the IB's Middle Years Programme
2019:Newly renovated Manucha & Bellamy Studio Theatre opens at the Upper School; The Hixon Family Design Lab is unveiled at the Preparatory School; The Oval's artificial turf is replaced thanks to a generous donation
2020:Refurbished Parkin Wing opens at the Preparatory School; UCC receives IB MYP authorization and becomes the first boys’ school in North America to deliver all three IB programmes
The 2020s
2020–21: UCC classes go virtual with the COVID pandemic
Read More
2020–21: UCC classes go virtual with school's Continuous Learning Plan during the COVID pandemic
2021: UCC’s longest-serving official visitor, Prince Philip, passes away
2022: Renovation of the Upper School East Wing
2023: Opening of the Lindsay Boathouse in Toronto’s Outer Harbour Marina
2024: Renovation of the varsity locker room and state-of-the-art scoreboard added; Brenda & Reid Chen Innovation Lab at the Prep opens its doors; A range of new sustainability initiatives undertaken
2025: UCC is one of four schools globally to launch of IB DP Systems Transformation Graduation Pathway; Establishment of Tanenbaum Inspire Fund and the Tanenbaum-Hutcheson Director of Partnerships and Social Impact; Inaugural Coxford Lecture held with 24th Western Chancellor Kelly Meighen
2026: Opening of the Prep’s Math and Science Learning Community; Launch of the Lang Leadership Lab Summer Institute for students from across Canada and around the world; Junior Kindergarten starts at UCC
