Let's party like it's 1807
Jarvis prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary
by Dana Marson
Lately, I’ve been thinking, it’s only a matter of time before the 29th of June rolls around and I turn the big 1-8. But an even greater milestone is coming up for an institution we’re all very familiar with. That’s right, Jarvisites; our beloved Jarvis Collegiate Institute is celebrating
its 200th anniversary! And it has been quite the couple of centuries.
Jarvis was established in 1807, when Upper Canada needed a public school system. Today, our school rests at the address of 495 Jarvis Street, but this wasn’t always so; the location changed several times, including a brief stay at Yonge and King in a vibrant blue-coloured building, before the final move in 1924 to its current address.
The student body started
off as a mere five students, and over time grew larger in number. The original student body was also a more elitist crowd, coming from wealthy families. Now an inner-city school, Jarvis welcomes students of all kinds, which makes for the very diverse group we know today.
With history aside, I ask, what is being done for the bicentennial celebration?
And, what can we expect for Jarvis Collegiate Institute in 2007?
JCI has been undergoing a few renovations, like the new windows and curtains, and the ever-anticipated new toilet stalls in the girls’ bathrooms. Also, the Vocal Music students are receiving leather-bound music folders.
Our current principal, Mr. Gold, explained to me that organization of the celebrations has two main components: former staff and students, and current staff and students. The first group forms the Bicentennial Project, led by Jarvis alumna, Gwendolyn Julien-Medeiros.
All Jarvis clubs are fundraising
for the Brick-By-Brick campaign, to build a school in Sierra Leone, supported by the in-school bicentennial committee. Although this commitment is only for the first six months of the school year, it is different than the Jarvis tradition of supporting a wide diversity of fundraising
choices. On the other hand, he says, it shows the nature of unity in our school as well. Normally, the diversity of ideas that Mr. Gold refers to is reflected by Jarvis contributing to a number of different
causes. At this time, we’re showing
our school spirit in the greatest of ways, putting full focus on one cause that involves the whole school: the Sierra Leone project.
During the 2005/2006 school year, the opening of the Jarvis museum exhibition was held at St. James Cathedral in Toronto. This event had performances by the Jarvis band, strings, and choir, as well as speeches from Jarvis students, our principal, and even a descendent of Jarvis’s first principal. Mr. Gold said that the student involvement reinforced the reputation of Jarvis; it was impressive
to see the students of today working together with other people involved to create “something of such high calibre.”
Teacher and Chair of the bicentennial
committee at Jarvis, Ms. Finlay, described some of the various in-school activities that are planned so far: inclusive
are the Walk-A-Thon, JCI bracelet sales, a CN Tower climb, the always-entertaining teacher talent shows, and, of course, the Sierra Leone project.
The Student Council is a strong supporter of the in-school committee and will be working alongside it.
The huge celebration begins the weekend of 25 May 2007.
Mr. Gold says that there are three parts of the festivities: reunion of former staff and students, the events at Jarvis, and the gala dinner. Jarvis will house performances and The Weston Harbour Castle Convention Centre will accommodate about two thousand guests at the gala dinner. Mr. Gold mentioned that the collection of former students is an opportunity to “relive experiences.” The gala dinner invitations have had a positive response, although Mr. Gold expressed the difficulty in contacting so many alumni.
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