In 2017 the school board that this school falls under, announced that the school would close after the 2022 year. The students would be sent to a newly built school (built at a cost of $9 million). The school board had been having difficulty finding land for the new school and had been considing reopening this one.The cost to reopen would be approximately $900,000 for furniture, $670,000 for expenses and approximately $500,000 for a new sewer system. It currently remains locked up and the alarm is on. It’s a popular location for people to walk their dogs. On my visit…

1896-1922 On January 7th of 1896, the first high school in Leamington began classes out of a three-story residence once owned by politician Lewis Wigle. Wigle’s home was purchased by the High School Board for $5,000. Before Leamington District High School (LDSS) existed, students were taught some secondary school subjects while still in public school. The first day at the new high school saw 56 students enrolled and by the end of the school year enrollment had grown to 105. John Elliot served as principal until 1906. By 1908, the school had outgrown the house, prompting the addition of four…

In 1909, high school education in Ridgeway, Ontario was held in the Continuation School located in the Masonic Temple Building on Ridge Road (known today as the Niagara Funeral Alternatives). Classes were taught by two teachers.After World War I ended, the School Board felt that plans for a new school could be implemented. During their December 31, 1919 annual meeting, details of the new school were revealed. Teacher’s salaries would be between $600 to $900 per year, with the principal earning $1900 annually.The school was built on the site of where Ridgeway Public School is located today. The school’s cornerstone…

The St. John’s Catholic French Immerson School was located on Hill Street in London, Ontario. It was demolished in 2020 to make room for a new Child and Family Centre and Licensed Child Care for the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC). The province of Ontario spent $12,000,000 to help relocate the school to 1212 Coronation Drive. There were approximately 500 students at the old school.

The one room school house known as S.S. #3 Maple Lodge is one of the last buildings of the old town of Maple Lodge. The post office was located north on Niel Road.The school was built in 1900 and closed in 1956. This school was built in 1900 and closed in 1956. The building was also used as a woodwork shop but due to break-ins at the remote location, that business ceased. A church was located at the other end of the adjacent corn field which was relocated from the south during the 1800’s. The outline of the old Grand…

Mountain Secondary School was located at 60 Caledon Avenue in the City of Hamilton, Ontario. The building first opened in September of 1967 as the Caledon Girls Junior Vocational School. It amalgamated with the all-boys Crestwood Secondary School in 1995.Mountain Secondary School’s education curriculum included multi-credit courses in academics as well as industry standard certifications, and co-operative education. The industries included sectors such as transportation, cosmetology, hospitality, building maintenance, cabinetmaking, retail and personal/senior/child care sectors. The school also offered special education and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes The 2009-2010 student enrollment was 328 students.On May 24, 2012 the…

F.M. Heard Public School was located at 100 Garden Street in the city of Whitby. The school’s history began in 1875 under the name of The Model School, a training school for teachers. The school eventually became Dundas Street Public School. In 1967 a fire led to the demolition of part of Dundas Public School and a complete rebuild of the west-wing.The west wing was rebuilt while older additions remained intact. In 1974 the school reopened under the name of Florence M. Heard, a former teacher who began her career at the school back in 1924. In 1942 she was…

This was the Avon Public School in the City of Stratford. It was located at 140 Caledonia Street.In 2007 the school was deemed to be too expensive to repair and was granted “prohibitive to repair” (PTR) status and was considered to be “21st Century learning in a 19th Century environment”.In October of 2014 the school was still standing and no demolition preparation work had commenced. In fact, there was a For Sale sign on the front lawn. The school is now demolished. Condos now stand on the grounds of the former school.

St. Luke’s Catholic School in the City of Markham served grades 9 through 12. The school also offered ESL (English as a Second Language) classes for the community. The school was located at 160 Dudley Avenue.   The school was built in 1955.   Due to aging infrastructure as well as asbestos, the school was abandoned around 2012. The city purchased the property in February of 2013 for $5.355 million. In May of 2016, the city entered into a 10 year lease with Cyrus Cultural Society.   Today the property is used for private education as the “I Am Smart…

St. Christopher’s Separate School was built in 1966 to serve the residents of Hamilton as an elementary school. Due to shrinking enrollment numbers (105 pupils) the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board opted in 2008 to shutter the school after the school year. Students were consolidated with students from nearby St. John the Baptist school in the fall. Over the years the school has seen numerous fires and heavy vandalism. The school will eventually be demolished, For now, firefighters are routinely called out to extinguish arson.