Parkdale Collegiate Institute

Parkdale Collegiate Institute (PCI), previously known as Jameson Avenue High School and Jameson Avenue Collegiate Institute is a public high school located on Jameson Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school is a member of the Toronto District School Board. From its opening until 1998, it was part of the former Toronto Board of Education. Founded in 1888, Parkdale is located in the neighbourhood of Parkdale, a former village on its own. A multicultural district, the location is in the heart of what is considered 'Little Tibet', which is the home of the largest concentration of Tibetans in the city. History Parkdale High School opened in the Masonic Hall on Dowling Avenue in 1888. When the town of Parkdale was annexed to the City of Toronto a year later in 1889, Parkdale High School moved to its new residence on Jameson Avenue where it became the Jameson Avenue Collegiate Institute, and later the Jameson Collegiate Institute. In 1910, the school was renamed to its present name of Parkdale Collegiate Institute. The original building served until 1928 and then demolished while the school moved to the present Collegiate Gothic structure which was completed in 1929. The school has had two additions, the most recent in the 1960s. Parkdale Collegiate Institute is one of the oldest secondary schools in the City of Toronto. Parkdale Collegiate Institute is a certified International Baccalaureate World School which began in April 2007. It currently offers the IB Preparation Programs for Grade 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma Programme for Grade 11 and 12. The current head of the department for the IB program at Parkdale Collegiate Institute is Miroslaw Bartnik. One of the first teachers was Nellie Spence, one of the first female secondary school teachers in Toronto, who taught English and History at Parkdale from 1888 until she retired in 1929. The Nellie Spence Archive Room in the school containing memorabilia and local history is named after her. This year's Senior Girls' Volleyball team were the Toronto AA representatives at OFSAA. The Senior Boys Volleyball team were the Toronto AA representatives at OFSAA for the 2014–2015 season which was held in Northern Ontario. In the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, three Parkdalians participated as members of the Canadian Olympic team, Marvin Nash in the 100 metres, Bishop Dolegiewicz in discus and George Tintor in rowing. Notable staff Ivor Wynne, teacher and later director of athletics at McMaster University Notable alumni Stella Asling-Riis, novelist and clubwoman Bonnie Dobson, folk singer and songwriter Dallas Good, musician in the Sadies Fred Gardiner - lawyer, politician, Metropolitan Toronto chairman Grace Irwin - novelist and teacher William Krehm - author, journalist, political activist, real estate developer Chemi Lhamo - human rights activist Leon Major - theatre and opera director, artistic director, educator Anne Mroczkowski - television reporter and news anchor Norma Renault - stage, television and film actress Goody Rosen - professional baseball player Charles Templeton - media figure, Christian evangelist See also Education in Ontario List of secondary schools in Ontario References External links TDSB Parkdale CI page School web site Alumni web site "Parkdale Collegiate" (PDF). Toronto and District School Board. Retrieved October 15, 2008. "Parkdale Collegiate School Program" (PDF). Toronto and District School Board. Retrieved October 15, 2008.