“Fidelitas in Arduis” translates to “Faith in Hard Times”. This is the motto of Neil McNeil High School. Founded in 1958 Neil McNeil High School has a rich history. It’s dedicated to the education of young men. The school is guided by the Holy Spirit. Neil McNeil aspires to foster excellence in its students. It wants to develop the whole person. This is done through a comprehensive educational experience. The school follows the Spiritan tradition.
Neil McNeil High School is located on Victoria Park Avenue in Toronto. It is an all-boys Roman Catholic secondary school. The Toronto Catholic District School Board administers it. Neil McNeil is one of four all-boys schools run by the TCDSB.
Six Holy Ghost Fathers came from Ireland in 1954. They wanted to get missionaries. Archbishop James Charles McGuigan wanted an all-boys school in east Toronto. Neil McNeil was the first high school in Scarborough.
The school was named after Neil McNeil. He was the Archbishop of Toronto from 1912 to 1934. He fought for funding for Catholic secondary schools. Neil McNeil demonstrated “Fidelitas in Arduis”.
Father Troy was the first principal of Neil McNeil. He served until his retirement in 1965. The school originally had two stories with no gym or cafeteria. A third floor gymnatorium and cafeteria were added in 1960.
Neil McNeil entered an agreement with the Metropolitan Separate School Board in 1967. In grades 9 and 10 students were publicly funded. Grades 11 12 and 13 continued as a private school. Since 1987 the school has been fully funded by the government.
The Spiritan presence remains through the Spiritan Scholarship Fund. It was established in 1995. By 1998 the fund had disbursed over $50000 in scholarships. These scholarships were for students going to university or community college.
Notre Dame High School is the sister school of Neil McNeil. Both schools are among the oldest and most respected in the TCDSB. Neil McNeil is known for its spirited school assemblies.
Every Friday morning the school song is sung. It replaces the singing of “O Canada”. School spirit is fostered by the Student Council. The Council has autonomy over their affairs since 2011-2012.
Neil McNeil has many notable alumni. These include John Candy. He was a comedic actor. Lawrence Gowan is a musician with STYX. Also David Bourque is a musician with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Neil McNeil faced a possible relocation in 2009. The school board was reviewing schools for consolidation or closure. Parents and the community opposed the relocation of Neil McNeil.
The school board explored different options. One was to relocate Neil McNeil students to St. Patrick. Another was to relocate Notre Dame students to Neil McNeil. The community wanted to improve St. Patrick instead.
St. Patrick became the Centre for the Arts Media and Technology in 2010. The school board agreed to maintain the Neil McNeil facility for the next 50 years.
John Candy once said “My success is simply rooted in the values and discipline and respect for others that I was taught at Neil McNeil”. His words encapsulate the school’s mission. Neil McNeil continues to shape young men. It instills in them faith and resilience.