Raise the Hammer

To understand the catchment area you need to look at the history.

The school was a foundry owned by Archie McCoy. (Who knows what evil chemicals lay underneath?)

At the time the school was planned, York was basically an alleyway surrounded by derelict buildings and squatters. The place was a cesspool.

As part of the overall remediation of the area, expropriations occurred which were quite contentious. (This eventually caused the formation of what is now the Dundurn Community Legal Clinic and a legal aid funded law source for the poor.)

Some years before Central High School which had been the sister school to Westdale burned down. Because of the population at the time, it was decided that building Scott Park and Sir John A made sense. (During this same era the Catholic Board had the same population issues and built Bishop Ryan, St. Mary's and Thomas More.)

Without getting into all the planning stuff like Jackson Square and the over-all remediation of the area, Sir John A had to draw from the Central population and the Westdale population to make sense. Needless to say, emotions ran high particularly for those people who lived in or moved into the area hoping to send their kids to Westdale. During this same period, a lot of the apartment buildings went up just south of Main.

After lots of gnashing of teeth, the boundary as it exists was created. I suspect that the hope was that the north end and Sir John A catchment area would continue to flourish. That did not happen as it has remained somewhat stagnant while the areas west of Dundurn grew.

This explains why Central Elementary went to Westdale in spite of the geography. There was no conspiracy. Parents who sent their kids to Central expecting them to go to Westdale passionately convinced the Board of their argument. Central had always been a Westdale feeder and there was a lot of tradition in what is now called the Durand neighbourhood, particularly as the board was competing with Hillfield for example for students.

Westdale is an awesome school. It is a multi-generational school. People whose parents (and now grandparents) went there felt that by living in its original catchment, they should be entitled to go there. In fact the people North of Main were not all that excited about losing their right to go to Westdale. But something had to be done.

Maybe it would have been better to rebuild Central High, but that is where the Claremont went in. In short there was a lot of balancing going on.

A lot of people fought against buying out Archie McCoy at a premium. But the city wanted heavy industry moved out of the downtown. If the foundry was still there, who knows what the area would look like. So compromises were made.

If you put yourself in the minds of people who made the decisions back then, I am not sure you would have made different decision on the catchment lines.
Now there is a great building there. The question is how do we maximize it’s use. If it is not a good place for a high school, maybe it would be a good place for a college, or college/community/arts centre, or – who knows ….


Some years before Central High School which had been the sister school to Westdale burned down. Because of the population at the time, it was decided that building Scott Park and Sir John A made sense. (during this same era the Catholic Board had the same population issues and built Bishop Ryan, St. Mary's and eventually Thomas More.)

Without getting into all the planning stuff like Jackson square and the over-all remediation of the area, Sir John A had to draw from the Central population and the Westdale Population. Needless to say, emotions ran high particularly for those people who lived or moved into the area hoping to send their kids to Westdale. During this same period, a lot of the apartment buildings went up just south of Main.

After lots of gnashing of teeth, the boundry as it exists was created. I suspect that the hope was that the north end and Sir John A catchment area would conintue to flourish. That did not happen as it has remained somewhat stagnant while the areas west of Dundurn grew.

This explains why Cnetral Elemntary went to WEstdale in spite of the geography. There was no consipiracy. Parent who sent their kidsto Central expecting them to go to Wesdale passionately ocnvinced the Board of their argument. Centra had always been a Westdale Feeder and there was a lot of tradition in the Druand neighbourhood particularly as the board was competing with Hillfield for example for students.

WEstdale is an awsome school. It is a multi generational school. People whose parents (and now grandparents) went there felt that by living in its original catchmnent, they cshoudl be entitled to go there. In fact the poeple North of Main were not all that excited about losing their right ot go to WEstdale. But something had ot be done.

Maybe it would havebeen better ot rebuild Central High, but that is where the Claremont went in. In short there was a lot of blanceing going on.

A lot of peple fought agianst buying out ARchie McCoy at a premium. But the city wanted heavy idustry moved out of the downtown. If the foundry was still there, who kows what the area would look like. So comporomises were made.

If you put yourself in the inds of people who made the decisoins abck then, I am not sure you would havemade different decision on the catchment lines.