St. Basil-the-Great College School

What if I told you that this very spot, St. Basil-the-Great College School, was once a lush apple orchard? Yes, before the halls of learning echoed with student chatter, the grounds of St. Basil-the-Great were part of the Jethro Crang family apple orchard, complete with a charming estate cottage, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and even a valley floodplain around Crang’s Pond. In 1962, the Ukrainian Basilian Fathers, not to be confused with the Congregation of St. Basil, transformed this tranquil setting into an educational institution. St. Basil-the-Great College School first opened its doors as a private, all-boys boarding school, serving the growing Catholic community in the Weston and Sheppard area. Imagine young boys in uniforms traversing the grounds where apple trees once stood. The school was the first Catholic high school in northwestern Toronto, a much-needed addition to the existing Thistletown Collegiate Institute and Emery Collegiate Institute. St. Basil-the-Great College School’s motto, “Excelsa Petite,” meaning “Strive for that which is great,” reflects the school’s commitment to academic excellence. In the 1970s, St. Basil-the-Great College School underwent a significant transformation. It transitioned from an all-boys school to a co-educational institution, welcoming girls into its classrooms. The boarding facilities were eliminated, marking a new era for St. Basil-the-Great. By 1986, with provincial funding extending to Catholic high schools beyond Grade 10, St. Basil-the-Great College School became a public separate school under the Metropolitan Separate School Board, now the Toronto Catholic District School Board. With over 1,000 students filling its halls and even spilling into portable classrooms, the school briefly operated a “South Campus” at the former Melody Public School on Strathburn Boulevard. The school’s continued growth led to another major change. In the late 1990s, St. Basil-the-Great College School moved to its current location on Starview Lane, a building constructed on the site of the former Southam Murray printing plant. From apple orchard to boarding school to a modern educational institution, St. Basil-the-Great College School stands as a testament to its enduring commitment to education and its rich history within the Toronto community. It continues to thrive, serving over 1,400 students and nurturing future generations.