Our History |
For close to 200 years, UCC has been educating the next generation of leaders and innovators
UCC was founded in 1829 by Sir John Colborne, the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, and was one of the first institutions for secondary education in what later became Ontario. The school began with a vision to nurture young minds, drawing inspiration from the leading educational institutions of the time and serving as a preparatory school for King’s College (now the University of Toronto). We first welcomed 57 students on January 4, 1830.
The College has a link to the British Royal Family through the late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Phillip was UCC’s Official Visitor from 1955 until his passing in 2021, and he visited the campus in 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1993.
Our original campus was in Russell Square, in downtown Toronto, before we moved to our Deer Park campus in 1891. By 1900, UCC had become a fully independent institution. Our dedication to a well-rounded education led to the acquisition, in 1913, of property in Norval, Ont., which has since grown into the Norval Outdoor School, providing enriching programming in environmental study and stewardship.
The Deer Park main building was rebuilt in the late 1950s and early 1960s through a community-wide fundraising effort. UCC's culture of philanthropy endures through countless fundraising campaigns to make the school the best it can be.
As we approach our monumental 200th anniversary in 2029, there will be many opportunities to reflect on and celebrate our history fostering academic excellence and personal growth.
Our Archives
To learn more about the College’s history and traditions, contact College Archivist Bee Khaleeli at bkhaleeli@ucc.on.ca. The College Archives are open from Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment during the academic year.
Our collections include:
- Textual Records
Official documents from UCC's Board of Governors; principals; College associations; and publications like College Times, the oldest, continuously running student publication in Canada. - Graphic Collection
More than 30,000 photographs slides, negatives, films and tapes depicting school life. - Artifact Collection
Medals, trophies, sweaters, caps, ties, pennants, sports equipment and Battalion uniforms.
Please note: Access to some records is restricted, but can be granted upon permission from the principal. The University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services manages UCC’s archival records prior to 1900.