What if I told you Bishop Allen Academy has a secret history hidden beneath its classrooms? This isn’t just any high school. Bishop Allen Academy Catholic Secondary School has a story that stretches back centuries. Let’s step back in time to uncover the fascinating past of this Toronto institution.
The story of Bishop Allen Academy begins long before its doors opened in 1989. The land beneath us was surveyed in 1793. It was part of Etobicoke Township. Developer Frederick Davidson set it aside for the King’s Mill. This mill was located upstream from Lake Ontario. Davidson later used it for his Brookwood estate.
Fast forward to 1961. The house on the estate was demolished. The Etobicoke Board of Education built Kingsmill Secondary School here in 1962. The architectural firm Gordon S. Adamson & Associates designed it. Kingsmill Secondary School opened in October 1963.
Kingsmill faced low enrollment in June 1988. The Etobicoke Board of Education declared it surplus. It was transferred to the Metropolitan Separate School Board on July 1 1988. A year later in September 1989 Bishop Allen Academy opened. The founding principal was Pat Gravelle. The school began with 135 students.
Before Bishop Allen Academy opened, the building served another purpose. It temporarily housed De La Salle College students in early 1989. Their own school had been flooded due to vandalism. Imagine 850 students unexpectedly relocated here.
Bishop Allen Academy has undergone several changes over the years. There were additions and renovations in 1991, 2000, 2005 and 2018. The courtyard was enclosed to expand the cafeteria. Architect Scott Morris designed a new chapel. The school’s chimney was removed because of falling bricks.
Many immigrant families came to Toronto after the war. Eastern Europeans arrived including Byzantine Catholic Ukrainians. Their descendants make up a large part of Bishop Allen’s student body. The school grew even as other schools saw declining enrollment.
The school is named after Bishop Francis Allen. He was an auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Toronto. He was also a pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Bishop Allen was a strong supporter of Catholic education.
Bishop Allen Academy has a challenging academic curriculum. It includes Advanced Placement courses and an Immersion French Program. The school also offers a gifted program called SAGE. Its motto is Gaudete in Domino meaning Rejoice in the Lord.
Originally, Bishop Allen Academy had a blue and grey color scheme. This contrasted with Father John Redmond High School’s red and black. Now Bishop Allen Academy uses red and black.
Today, Bishop Allen Academy continues to thrive. The school educates approximately 1700 students with over 100 teachers. Bishop Allen Academy is more than just a school building. It is a place with a unique history. From its early days as Kingsmill to its present role. Bishop Allen Academy reflects Toronto’s growth. It embodies its diverse community and its commitment to Catholic education. As you leave Bishop Allen Academy today, remember its rich past.