“Powerful, Passionate, Progressive”. These words form the motto of Sir William Osler High School. This high school offers a unique setting for students with disabilities.
Sir William Osler High School is located at 1050 Huntingwood Drive in Scarborough. It is named after Sir William Osler a Canadian doctor. He was also a medical educator. The school first opened its doors in 1975. But the nearby Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute was initially to be named Sir William Osler Collegiate Institute.
The school operates under the Toronto District School Board. Mr. Ian Bain is the current principal. It serves students in grades 9 through 12. The enrolment was 201 students in 2018-2019. The school colors are blue and yellow. The mascot is the Osler Eagles.
But who was Sir William Osler? Born in Canada in 1849 he became one of the “Big Four” founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Osler created the first residency program for specialty training of physicians. Many called him the Father of Modern Medicine. He was passionate about medical libraries and history. Osler co-founded the Medical Library Association. He left his large history of medicine library to McGill University. It became the Osler Library.
Osler insisted students learn by seeing and talking to patients. He helped establish the medical residency. Physicians in training made up much of a teaching hospital’s medical staff. He once wrote that studying medicine without books is like sailing an uncharted sea.
Sir William Osler High School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The school provides social and academic programming. This helps students build life skills and employability skills. Students work toward a Certificate of Accomplishment. They can remain at Osler until they turn 21. Sir William Osler High School provides a warm welcoming environment. It is a place where students can grow and develop.