Brantford Collegiate Institute
| Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
120 Brant Ave , , N3T 3H3 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public High School |
| School board | Grand Erie District School Board |
| Principal | Gail Lovett |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1286 (as of 2005) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Blue and Yellow |
| Mascot | Mustang |
| Website | http://schools.gedsb.net/bci/ |
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Brantford Collegiate Institute is a secondary school in the Grand Erie District School Board which is a medium sized school board in the province of Ontario.
Enrollment
The 2005-2006 Enrollment figures for BCI are
Grade 9 - 262 Students Grade 10 - 307 Grade 11 - 305 Grade 12 - 392 Developmentally Delayed - 20
Total 1,286 Students.
Distinguished Alumni
Thomas B. Costain ( 1885 - 1965)
As a student at Brantford Collegiate, Costain wrote two full-length books, which he later described as a 'two hundred thousand word exhibition of adolescent futility'. Thomas B. Costain left school to become a reporter, first with the Brantford Courier, then The Expositor, which led to a brilliant career in Canada and the United States as a magazine Editor. In his fifties he wrote the first of 23 historical novels, which sold more than 15 million copies, making him the most widely read of the Canadian-Born authors.
One of his books, The Chord of Steel, tells the story of Alexander Graham Bell, and raised awareness of Brantford's status as the birthplace of the telephone.
Dr. James Hillier
James Hillier hoped for a career in art after B.C.I.. He was unaware that the one teacher had recognized his other abilities and had applied for a science scholarship at the University of Toronto on his behalf. So, he became a scientist. He is the co-inventor of the first effective electron microscope, and designer of the first widely available model. It revels structures down to the atom, making it on of the most powerful tools of scientific research in the 20th Century, and beyond.
Dr. Hillier's inventions earned him 41 patents, a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the Order of Canada. Thanks largely to the generosity, the James Hillier Foundation now offers scholarships to local students pursuing degrees in the sciences.
E. Pauline Johnson (1862 - 1913)
The daughter of an hereditary Chief of the Mohawks of the Six Nations and his English wife, Pauline Johnson was mainly educated at Chiefswood, the family mansion, and at Brantford Collegiate, where she loved to perform in plays and pageants. Poetry and performance were her passions. Her poems were widely published, and she made hugely successful tours across Canada, the United States and Britain. She was a star. A striking figure in splendid native costume she packed halls and theaters, giving intensely dramatic recitals of her works.
A recurring theme was pride in her native heritage, reflected in the title of her collected works, Flint and Feather, first published in 1912, and repeatedly reprinted.
Sara Jeannette Duncan (1861 - 1922)
An outstanding journalist at a time when female journalists were rare, Sara Jeannette Duncan was the first woman accredited to the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa in 1888. She went on to become an acclaimed and popular novelist on both sides of the Atlantic.
Her acknowledged masterpiece is The Imperialist, first published in 1904, a witty novel of manners and politics that has been compared to the works of Jane Austen. It is recognized as one of the most significant books in the development of Canadian literature and it is set in the busy industrial city of "Elgin" with gives a vivid portrait of her home town, Brantford.
Sara Barber
In 1954, Sara Barber was 13 years old, a grade 9 student at B.C.I. & V.S. and a world class athlete. As a member of Canada's swim team at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, she was the youngest competitor there. Still a B.C.I. student, Sara dominated the Canadian national championships in 1956, winning an unprecedented six titles: the 100 meter backstroke, freestyle and butterfly, 200 meter backstroke, 400 meter freestyle and medley.
Internationally, Sara represented Canada at thee Empire Games, two Pan-American Games, and two Olympic Games - Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960.
She won more than 100 medals in competition, and briefly, in 1959, held the world record for the 100 yard backstroke.
Dr. John V. Basmajian
John Basmajian was an all-round student. He played football, acted with the Drama Club, wrote poems and articles for the Writer's Club, and edited Hello, the school yearbook. He went on to get his medical degree, and his internationally acclaimed medical research and rehabilitation of nerve-muscle functions began in 1949 at Toronto's Sick Children's Hospital.
Polio, spinal-cord conditions and muscular dystrophy were his first targets.
A new technique, electromyography, became his chief weapon and made him famous, with torrents of publications, echoing B.C.I. days. He was made an officer of the Order of Canada, received the Order of Ontario, and many honourary fellowships, degrees, Who's Who entries and invited tours through many countries on every continent.
Professor Alexandra Johnston
At Brantford Collegiate "Sanny" Johnston was an eager student of English, who won prizes in the Thomas B. Costain essay contests, and delighted to perform in Drama Club productions. These enthusiasms translated into a brilliant academic record: she was Dr. Johnston, with a Ph.D. in English at age 25.
Alexandra Johnston embarked on a career, punctuated with honours, as a professor and academic administrator. She was the first woman to serve as Principal of Victoria College, in Toronto.
Dr. Johnston was a founder, then director of the international scholarly project. Records of Early English Drama. This made Victoria College the world centre of the study - and discovery - of the medieval roots of the glories of the Elizabethan theatre
Relocation Controversy
Summary of Controversy
Brantford Collegiate Institute is the oldest school in Brantford, and has stood as a historic landmark for nearly a century. For years, the city and the Grand Erie District School Board have been working on a plan to update and renovate the deteriorating school located on 120 Brant Ave. A major uproar was created when the school board had a reversed their plans to rebuild B.C.I on its current location. Their new plan involved moving the school to Shellard Lane and tearing down the historic building located on Brant Ave.
Decisions Taken by the Board
The Brant County Board of Education presented a report, “Planning for our Future -- a Master Plan and Education Program for the Future Development of BCI” in November 1997 which recommended rebuilding on the current site. No follow-up decision was made and the issue was left with the newly amalgamated Grand Erie District School Board created on January 1, 1999 to resolve.
In the summer of 2002 the board received a report from senior administration which encouraged trustees to deal with this issue. An ad hoc committee was established and supported rebuilding BCI at its current site.
In October, 2004 a “Comprehensive Facility Audit” was completed by Jacques Whitford Limited. Their report was submitted to the board in April 2005. The report documented work that would need to be completed over the next 10 years totaling $12.2 million. This would be basic work and would not deal with issues such as accessibility.
In May 2005 the Board decided by motion to move forward with a “Community Forum” and to write to the Minister of Education to request financial assistance to revitalize BCI.
In the fall of 2005 the BCI Community Forums were held. By all accounts the process was positive and the consensus was that any redevelopment of BCI should be on its current site.
On February 6, 2006, the Board in Committee of the Whole approved moving forward with architectural services to assist the Design Committee examining options for the redevelopment of BCI. The options included a new school on a new site as well as redeveloping BCI on its current site.
On June 12, 2006, the board in Committee of the Whole approved moving forward with a “Request for Proposal” for architectural services for the redevelopment of BCI and directed administration to prepare a report on transition plans and costs.
In August, 2006 trustees with a 2/3 majority, passed a motion to re-open discussion on the location of BCI.
On September 14, 2006 another Public Forum was held. This time the discussion was on how to accommodate BCI students during the redevelopment. Parents from the other secondary schools in Brantford attended and objected to having their schools disrupted and put on shifts to accommodate BCI students during the construction at BCI. Approximately 600 people attended this meeting. At this meeting, the board’s presentation addressed the re-building of BCI on a new site as well as accommodating BCI on the existing site.
On October 2, 2006, administration presented a plan to rebuild BCI on the existing site while keeping the students on site. The option would increase costs and delay the completion of the project to 2010.
On October 16, 2006 a motion was approved to confirm that BCI would be rebuilt on its current site at a cost not to exceed $30 million. An RFP was approved for an architect and construction manager.
On November 20, 2006 Walter Fedy Partners were selected as architects and Atlas Construction as construction managers.
On January 8, 2007, the Board agreed to seek permission from the Minister of Education to adjust the school day to accommodate shifts at BCI while the re-development was taking place and on February 26, 2007 the Minister gave approval.
The plan called for the use of shifts, the use of the 1960’s wing of BCI, portables and the use of nearby Victoria School.
On March 19, 2007 cost estimates for the BCI development on site were reported to be $33,372,958 which included an auditorium at an approximate cost of $2.7 million which the Alumni committed to fundraise and $30,647,969 for a school on a new site. The operating costs for the new school on its current site would be greater because of the additional square footage however the bussing costs would be greater at the West Brant site.
The board moved a motion at the March 19th meeting to go in-camera and discuss a property issue. The property being contemplated by the board was located in West Brant, on Shellard Lane which is owned by the city.
Board officials had no written information from the city to explain the planning issues but they reported to trustees that permission could be obtained from the city to build a school quickly. That being said, trustees were told that the board would be responsible for the costs of some services since the land would not have access to all city services for a number of years.
School Council's Shock
School Council expressed concerns about the process used by the Board. They felt that they were misled because prior to the municipal election in 2006, the Board had one position on BCI and then after the election it was reversed. The School Council reviewed the events of the last several years where the Board consistently re-confirmed decisions to rebuild BCI on its current site. They praised the Community Forums as good vehicles to seek input.
School Council pointed to the relationship BCI has with Wilfrid Laurier University which has a campus in downtown Brantford as does Mohawk College and Nipissing University. The concern is that the new site for BCI is too far away from downtown to maintain these relationships.
Currently the vast majority of students walk to BCI whereas at its new location this will be the reverse at great cost to the Board.
School Council does not agree with the board that enrollment will increase significantly at the new site for BCI and felt that data used by the Board, 2001 census data, was out of date. Their belief is that new provincial policy calls for intensification and infilling and this will increase enrollment at the BCI downtown location. Council said they were shocked by the board’s reversal and they believe the decision was made without a commitment that land would be available for the re-located BCI in a short time frame.
An Angry City
The Mayor, Councillors and administration for the City of Brantford were very upset the board reversed its course without any discussion with the City. The Mayor said he heard about the board’s decision on the radio. This issue is particularly important to the City because much work and planning to revitalize downtown has begun to show results. With Nipissing and Wilfrid Laurier Universities as well as Mohawk College located in the core, more people are working and attending school downtown, which is good for business and creates employment. The province is encouraging intensification and infilling as good for the environment.
The City said that demographics are not showing growth in south-west Brant and therefore building a new school in this area is hard to understand.
The Mayor outlined the timelines for the necessary official plan amendment required before the proposed school site could be developed. The City also indicated that since other development is unlikely to occur for several years, the board would be responsible for the installation of necessary services for the new school.
Minister of Education's Suggestions
"During my consultations in Brantford it became clear that some members of the community viewed this fact finding process as an appeal of the Board’s decision concerning the future of BCI. They wanted the decision overturned by the Ministry of Education. It is important that everyone involved in this very difficult community issue understand that Ontario’s Education Act is the legal framework and it sets out who does what in the delivery of public education. The Ministry does not have the power to overrule locally elected school boards as long as their decisions respect the Education Act and the policy guidelines set by the Ministry.
School boards are democratically elected to make decisions that are best made at the community level. It would be inappropriate, and not in the best interest of public education, to have every school accommodation issue, all across this vast Province made in Toronto. In this particular case it is clear that the board has exclusive power to make this decision.
I was asked many times; “How is the board held accountable?” Clearly the board is accountable to the community. Ultimately trustees seek re-election and this democratic process provides direct accountability.
However in the exercise of this power, trustees and boards must be transparent, inclusive and respectful of the community they represent. Board decisions must serve the best interest of the community and of course their students."