APPLEBY COLLEGE
Appleby College is one of Canada’s most famous boarding schools with a global reputation. The school, located approximately midway between Toronto and Hamilton on the shores of Lake Ontario, was established in 1911 and has been one of North America’s leading private schools since. The school boasts two campuses, with the second being a private island retreat. Appleby is a member of the prestigious G30 network; the Round Square international association; and the World Leading Schools Association, with membership of either being restricted only to the very best globally-minded and academically rigorous schools in the world.
ABOUT
Appleby was founded in the early part of the previous century by a former Upper Canada College headmaster who believed a rural school campus would further aid the development of mind and character of the pupils who would board there. Today, that ethos is still reflected in the school’s curricular approach, enhanced by programmes shaped by Kurt Hahn and the Round Square movement he helped to establish.
The school’s, now suburban, campus is home to a vast array of sports and extracurricular activities that have helped cement Appleby’s reputation as one of the world’s great schools.
Pupils are admitted from the age of 12 subject to appropriate grade averages and/or additional assessment criteria. The school accommodates both day and as day and boarding students from across Canada and internationally (subject to meeting English language requirements). As an internationalist school, students may undertake studies towards the Advanced Placement college admissions assessment in the United States. Unusually for such a school, the International Baccalaureate programme is not available.
Despite the school’s relatively short history in comparison to it’s peers in the upper echelons of Canada’s independent schools sector, Appleby has firmly established itself as one of the leading, globally-renowned boarding schools in North America and is a first choice for many Canadian and international families.
The school owes its foundation to John Guest, who had been the Head at the illustrious Upper Canada College (UCC). Guest had envisioned a small boarding school in the countryside having tired of school life in the heart of the city (UCC being based in the heart of Toronto). Guest had given his life to education and was a keen proponent of advancing standards in and access to education. A passion he shared with his father-in-law, Sir Byron “Edmund” Walker, a wealthy and esteemed banker who was an active supporter of educational institutions in and around Toronto.
Sir Edmund had been a leading advocate for the foundation of the University of Toronto and had sponsored the creation of the federation between the various secular tertiary collegiate institutions in the city, including: Knox College; St. Michael’s College; University College; Victoria College; and Wycliffe College. He later encouraged and supported the admission of Trinity College and The Toronto Conservatory to the federation, now amalgamated into the University of Toronto.
In 1911, the two men, having expanded upon their shared vision and having determined what a top-tier, university-preparatory boarding school for boys should look like, set about establishing Appleby School. Sir Edmund financed the acquisition of 32 acres of land in Oakville, then a leafy rural lakeside community to the southwest of the city. The school opened that year welcoming 29 pupils from ages 9 – 18. Guest would serve as the school’s first Headmaster and Sir Edmund would serve as its first President.
The school would quickly expand, owing to the reputation and high regard that its two founding fathers were held in by well-to-do Torontonians and many boys from Upper Canada College relocated to the new school (including John Marshall Harlan II, who would later serve as the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Andrew Dyas MacLean of the MacLean publishing house). Many of the wealthy denizens of Oakville also embraced the school and sent their young men to be educated by Guest.
The school’s foundation coincided with the outbreak of World War I and, as with many other boys schools, a great number of young men were dispatched to the front line. A number of Appleby’s early students and staff gave their lives in service of their nation. A great many more would do so during World War II.
Even still, Appleby had garnered a strong reputation and standing and would continue to attract pupils to sustain throughout this tumultuous period. By the time the school’s chapel was built in 1929, Appleby was flourishing. The school had already seen many of their earliest graduates, a good deal of whom came from notable Canadian families, distinguish themselves with great success in their own respective careers.
The school changed its name to Appleby College in 1941, in keeping with the common tradition throughout the British Commonwealth of naming upper secondary schools with a university-preparatory focus as such. This would mark a period of great expansion of the school’s campus facilities and amenities including: a gymnasium, swimming pool, and new classroom and office buildings.
The school would undergo a further period of significant expansion to mark its 50th anniversary in 1961. A new dining school, named to honour John Guest, was built alongside a new boarding house (initially called “New House” before being renamed “Walker House” to honour Sir Edmund). The school’s chapel was subsequently expanded in 1968 and named in honour of the school’s third headmaster, John Bell who retired from service that same year (his wife would later be immortalised in a stained glass art window installed in the chapel in 2004). The swimming pool would be refurbished and reopened in 1970 alongside the school’s own hockey arena, expounding on the school’s prowess as a hockey powerhouse.
The school had variously expanded and retracted its entry points throughout the years, at one point having admitted day boys from 1st Grade until 12th Grade. However, its core focus as a boarding school for boys from the age of 9 to the age of 18 has largely defined the school’s student body and has always remained its primary structure. In 1971, the school cemented this structure, splitting the school into a Junior School and a Senior School. The school had experienced a surge in student numbers in the late 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the explosion in population growth in Oakville and neighbouring townships. Increasingly, these new pupils were attending on a day basis only and in the 1980s, day pupils would outnumber boarders for the first time. This trend has continued since. Nonetheless, Appleby would continue to offer Junior Boarding for pupils from Grade 4 up until this was discontinued in 1990. Today boarding is only available to the Senior School (Grades 9-12).
1990 was a significant year in Appleby’s history. Not only was junior boarding discontinued, but Saturday classes were abolished, firmly demonstrating the transition to a, primarily, day school. The process of becoming co-educational was also set in train with the first girls being admitted in 1991 in Grades 6-11. Appleby would also begin phasing out and closing its junior department becoming a High School for Grades 7-12 only.
Appleby is an accredited member of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the National Association of International Schools (NAIS) and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). The school is also recognised internationally as a leading school and joins other such peers in organisations such as the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE), the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG), the Global Connections Foundation (GCF), the G30 Schools, Round Square and the World Leading Schools Association (WLSA). Indeed, Appleby College is one of a handful of schools that has been invited to join so many elite school associations.
RECOMMENDED READING:
BON APPÉTIT APPLEBY: RECIPES COLLECTED BY THE APPLEBY COLLEGE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
APPLEBY COLLEGE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (1977) OAKVILLE, APPLEBY COLLEGE (ISBN: UNKNOWN)
THE HANDBOOK OF CANADIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS
THOMSON, ASHLEY AND LAFROTUNE, SYLVIE (1999) TORONTO, DUNDURN PRESS (ISBN: UNKNOWN)
Appleby College has had many distinguished persons pass through its hallowed corridors, perhaps you or somebody you know might be counted amongst them? Please do share your comments, thoughts, stories or experiences with us in the comments section.
INFORMATION
FULL NAME
APPLEBY COLLEGE
NICKNAME
AC / THE DOUBLE BLUE
CATEGORY
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
BOARDING SCHOOL
COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL
FEE-PAYING SCHOOL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
PRIVATE SCHOOL
ESTABLISHED
1911
GENDER
CO-EDUCATIONAL
ADMISSIONS
BOARDING & DAY
AGES
12 – 18
GRADES
GRADES 7 – 12
ENTRANCE CRITERIA
CANDIDATES MUST COMPLETE AN ONLINE ASSESSMENT AND AN INTERVIEW. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS AND REPORTS MUST BE FURNISHED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION AND PLACES MAY ONLY BE OFFERED SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND REQUISITE GPA. ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS OR ENTRANCE CRITERIA MAY BE APPLIED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
IN LINE WITH PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL GUIDELINES.
CURRICULUM
APPLEBY COLLEGE DIPLOMA (ENHANCE VERSION OF ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA).
ADVANCED PLACEMENT.
INSPECTION AUTHORITY
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, ONTARIO
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
ENGLISH
FAITH / ETHOS
—
PEDAGOGY / PHILOSOPHY
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
CAMPUS
LAKESIDE / SUBURBAN
HOUSES
BAILLIE | COLLEY | POWELL’S | WALKER
CO-CURRICULAR
BROADCASTING AND MEDIA
CHESS
CHOIR
CODING
COMMUNITY SERVICE
CREATIVE WRITING
DANCE
DEBATE
DRAMA
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
FINE ARTS
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
MUSIC
ORCHESTRA
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
PERFORMING ARTS
ROBOTICS
SCHOOL BAND
SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
SOCIAL JUSTICE
VISUAL ARTS
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL
SPORTS
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL (SOCCER)
ATHLETICS (TRACK & FIELD)
BADMINTON
BASKETBALL
CROSS COUNTRY
GOLF
HOCKEY (FIELD)
HOCKEY (ICE)
ROCK CLIMBING
RUGBY (UNION)
SKATING
SQUASH
SWIMMING & DIVING
TABLE TENNIS
TENNIS
VOLLEYBALL
WEIGHT TRAINING
YOGA & PILATES
OPERATOR
—
PATRON / VISITOR
—
PRESIDENT
—
HEAD OF SCHOOL
INNES VAN NOSTRAND (PRINCIPAL)
ENROLLMENT
795 PUPILS (274 BOARDERS)
FACULTY
323 STAFF
RATIO
9:1
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
12 – 16 PUPILS
TUITION FEES
CAD $43,090 – $87,270 PER ANNUM.
ADDITIONAL FEES AND CHARGES MAY APPLY.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES & FINANCIAL AID
FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE ON A MEANS-TESTED BASIS. VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS INCLUDING THE SIR EDMUND WALKER SCHOLARSHIP.
ENDOWMENT
CAD $49,000,000
FEEDER SCHOOLS
FERN HILL SCHOOL
LINBROOK SCHOOL
MACLACHLAN COLLEGE
ROTHERGLEN SCHOOL
LEAVERS DESTINATIONS
BROWN UNIVERSITY
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREW’S
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
IVY LEAGUE
OLD FOUR
OXBRIDGE
RUSSELL GROUP
UNIFORM
NAVY BLUE BLAZER, LIGHT-COLOURED SHIRT/BLOUSE, GREY TROUSERS/PLAID SKIRT, NAVY PULLOVER AND APPROPRIATE SCHOOL OR HOUSE TIE.UNIFORM AVAILABLE HERE.
SCHOOL TIE
SCHOOL COLOURS
BOAT CLUB COLOURS
—
ACCREDITATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
CANADIAN ACCREDITED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
CANADIAN EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE
CONFERENCE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF ONTARIO
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL EDUCATION
GLOBAL EDUCATION BENCHMARK GROUP
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS FOUNDATION
G30 SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION NETWORK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
OAKVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
ROUND SQUARE
THE ASSOCIATION OF BOARDING SCHOOLS
WORLD LEADING SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
ATHLETIC CONFERENCES & SPORTS LEAGUES
CONFERENCE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
RIVAL SCHOOLS
SISTER SCHOOLS & PARTNER SCHOOLS
SCHOOL MOTTO
NEC TEMERE, NEC TIMIDE (NEITHER RASHLY NOR TIMIDLY)
SCHOOL MASCOT
WHIPPET (AKA BLUE DOG)
SCHOOL SONG
—
SCHOOL PUBLICATION
ARGUS
THE DOUBLE BLUE
THE SOURCE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CELEBRATED ALUMNI & FACULTY
HON. NORMAN ATKINS; JEFFREY “JEFF” BATCHELOR; GEORGE MONTEGU BLACK II; JAIME CLAIRE BOURBONNAIS; SHARON GRACE CREELMAN; AMY ROXANNE CURLEW; JEFF FAIRHOLM; COLIN FERGUSON; SAM WILLIAM GAGNER; WILLIAM “BILL” DOUGLAS GAIRDNER; LAUREN HOWE; BRIANNE ALEXANDRA JENNER; AJSC JOHN MARSHALL HARLAN II; HON. DANIEL HAYS; PHIL MACKENZIE; ANDREW DYAS MACLEAN; RAYMOND MASSEY; FRASER MCCONNELL; DYLAN JEREMY NEAL; EVANKA OSMAK; DAVID GERRY PARTRIDGE; JILLIAN “JILL” PAULINE SAULNIER; SARAH STEELE; DACRE STOKER; PRINCE ALEXIS SERGEEVICH TROUBETZKOY; SIR BYRON “EDMUND” WALKER
CONTACT DETAILS
540 LAKESHORE ROAD WEST, OAKVILLE, ONTARIO L6K 3P1, CANADA
SOCIAL MEDIA
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