1889

Mr. James Short established a one-room high school in Calgary.

1900

Dr. A.C. MacRae came west as a missionary for the Presbyterian Church.

1903

An Ordinance to Incorporate “Western Canada College”

The Presbyterian Church sponsored Western Canada College. The college was modeled after the strict upper crust English schools. The college was for boys only and was affiliated with the University of Toronto. Reverend J.C. Herdman, Minister of Knox Presbyterian Church and Dr. A.C. MacRae were responsible for its start on 15 Avenue with a population of 23. Dr. MacRae was the founding principal. There was no running water or electricity. Students needing discipline pumped water by hand into a large cistern. When the student population reached 40 they moved into a large house on 17 Avenue. The area was full of wealthy real estate speculators who had the money to send their children to a private college. These people had been educated in the best private schools in Britain and Eastern Canada and thus they wanted the best private schools for their children. To raise money for the new college, 5000 shares were sold for $10 each. Many of the original investors read like a “Who’s Who” list for Alberta; Pat Burns, R.B. Bennet, A.E. Cross, William Pearce, A.C. Rutherford (who was premier at the time), James Muir and George Lane, (three of these people have since had Calgary schools named after them).

1905

The CPR granted 20 acres to Western Canada College (WCC) for $400. The first building was a large wooden structure that was located where the auditorium is today. A second building was erected, and later it was used as a library for Western Canada High School (WCHS). A third building was constructed as living quarters for the students who were boarders. By this time the student population was 120 boys from British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan and nine staff members. To fund the school it was incorporated under a provincial bill as a joint stock company.

1910

The population boomed with students entering all grades. Accommodation for students was a problem at all grade levels. High teacher turnover was creating a continuity problem. Many teachers came from Eastern Canada, most were women who married and left teaching after one or two years.

1911

The role of the School Board began to change. The school was growing so large that trustees no longer knew the teachers. As the system grew so did bureaucracy. The Board moved its office downtown, leaving its on site location at Central High School.

1913

The real estate market collapsed. This was followed by a decrease in enrollment at the college, as families could no longer afford to send their children to school.

1914

There was an increasing need for secondary educational facilities but this was making it difficult for districts to meet educational demands.

WW 1

A stone cairn (cenotaph) was erected to commemorate the 40 Western Canada College students who died in the war. This is the only high school with such a memorial.

1914 – 1919

During the depression the attendance at schools dropped. Students were enlisting in the army and money became an issue for the students (books, clothing, footwear).

1915

Enrollment in Calgary high schools is 525.

1920

Enrollment grows to 1,039, a 98% increase since 1915. There was a wider range of socio-economic students at school with a wider range of achievement levels. The changing student population had different educational needs and this led to an increasing demand for occupational and vocational education. In the work place, there were advances being made in technology that led to a decreased need for unskilled labour. In addition, students were starting to recognize the economic benefits of higher education. This was the beginning of the school system tutelary relationship with the students. A.M. Scott, superintendent of Canadian schools said, “schools are too bookish and academic, the curriculum must be training for life and all occupations, rather than a training ground for the teaching profession and university”.

1922

MacRae married the school’s housekeeper that was not popular with the students or their parents.

1923

Dr. MacRae resigned as principal of WCC and moved to Victoria. Coronal T.J. Williams, a WCC graduate, succeeded him.

1924

The secretary-treasurer of WCC (who held a similar position with the Anglican Diocese of Calgary and St. Hilda’s College) deceived the auditors and embezzled the college funds. He was prosecuted by the Board and sent to the penitentiary. This event led to the demise of WCC as it created many financial difficulties.

1925

Enrollment grew to 1855 an increase of 78% since 1920. There were several reasons for the increased enrollment; the demise of private schools and the social economic pressure to get more education and the high school curriculum broadening thus the appeal became greater.

1926

The School Board held a meeting to discuss the purchase of WCC for $30,000 on the condition that the site must be used for educational purposes. The purchase would include 11 acres (9/20 previous held acres were sold by the college at a cost of $109,000) at 17 Avenue and 30 acres in Shouldice Park. The land and buildings were valued at $82,000 but the WCC wanted only enough money to meet its business liabilities.

MAY the Board approves acquiring the land. There was some public protest to the purchase from the people who wanted to save their college. The sale eventually went through.

1927

Four additional high school classes were added to an old school building that was located at the back of the school grounds. These were filled with grade nine classes from South Calgary High School. E.D. Campbell was appointed principal. The trustees decided at this time that a high school building program would be a priority.

MARCH the Board decided to build two new high schools, Crescent Heights and Western.

1928

The Board received correspondence that indicated there was support for a technical program at the school; support included the Parent Teacher Federation, The Local Council of Women, and the Women’s Section of the Dominion Labour Party. The Board responded by recommending that a two-year technical program be offered at the new high school that was under construction (WCHS).

SUMMER the Board decided to erect a Technical School on the grounds of WCHS.

NOVEMBER the Board approved a second building to be used as an academic building. The old dormitory was torn down. The corner stone still remains between the 1914 – 1918 cenotaph and the front of the school. It bears the name, Earl of Minto (Governor General at the time) and the date 1904.

1929

The new technical and academic school buildings opened. Mr. Joseph Ross was principal of the technical school and Mr. T.E.A. Stanley was principal of the academic school. The technical school had rooms in the east wing and ten rooms in the west wing plus it housed the powerhouse and the shop.

Mr. Pulleyback was appointed the first vice-principal. South Calgary High School and Elbow Park School were incorporated into Western. To relieve overcrowding at Victoria school the pre-vocational classes were moved into a four room wood building on Western’s grounds that had once been a gym.

1930

During the depression there was not enough work so more students went to school and stayed. Students started to reject staff supervised extra curricular activities and began their own sororities and fraternities.

1932

Betty Mitchell joined the staff and offered the first accredited drama program in Canada.

1935

The School Board recommended that the two separate schools become one and have one principal overseeing a composite high school. It was also decided to build an auditorium to accommodate instruction in Physical Education, Drama, Choir and Music.

MAY the plan was adopted.

JUNE J.H. Ross was appointed principal of WCHS. The auditorium was started, the fence between the two schools was removed and a tunnel physically joined the buildings.

SEPTEMBER the first composite high school opened. The name for the yearbook was changed to ACATEC signifying the union. The composite schools attracted more students than the technical that had a perceived lower class status than the academic program. Enrollment was 1260.

1934

In November a fire in the auditorium destroyed it. The walls caved in as an explosion blew out the south end wall, the firemen narrowly escaped death. The school newspaper was started, “The Mirror”, over the years it has won several journalistic awards.

1937

The gymnasium was rebuilt.

1938

The commercial high school was moved to WCHS to complete it as a composite high school. The principal did not approve of mixing academic and non-academic schooling. There was considerable effort to get the staff of the two schools working as one.

1940

The school was used as an auxiliary training depot. WCHS was affiliated with the Royal Canadian Artillery. The boys learned to drill, rifle practice, signaling, map reading, and defensive measures against air attacks. Their training gained them credits in Health and Physical Education.

Frank Woodman was appointed principal of WCHS and remained there until 1954. He was often described as “the Dean of Calgary schools” and “Mr. Western”. Frank Woodman continued his involvement with education into retirement serving on the Calgary School Board. Before he retired a “Frank L. Woodman Night” was held to recognize his contributions to the school. Woodman Junior High in southwest Calgary opened in 1959-60 in honour of one of the city’s best-loved educators. Frank Woodman died in 1967, thirteen years after his retirement from Western.

1945

Guidance was added to the school curriculum to help students with the changing world and the changing educational needs for employment.

1946

Overcrowding at Western lead to the opening of four grade ten classes at King Edward school. These were straight academic classes.

1948

Additional shop rooms were opened at Western freeing up room for academic classes, the classes at King Edward moved back to Western. Four fulltime librarians were on staff.

1949

There one remaining original building was used for administration for WCHS.

1950

WCHS was the biggest of the four high schools in Calgary.

1953

Ward Steckle was appointed principal. He was credited with starting the high school tradition of Friday night football games.

1958

The link between the two buildings was ruled unsafe and was torn down. WCHS modernization project was started. The print shop was used by the school to print the school newspaper, report cards, design and print graduation booklets. The last remaining building from WCC was destroyed.

1960

Enrollment was 1800, the highest number to date. A new shop and technical wing were added to the school.

1963

Dr. A.E. MacRae died in Vancouver at the age of 93.

1965

November 11, Donald Maclaren (1907 WCC graduate) donated a bronze plaque to commemorate Dr. MacRae. This was located in the school’s main hallway. In his address about MacRae, he said that he instilled a deep sense of honour, qualities of loyalty, understanding and sportsmanship in the students.

1967

Students planted a centennial garden; small bits of this garden remain on the site.

1969

Ward Steckle retired as principal.

1971

Enrollment 1725.

1979

Bob Pulleyblank was appointed principal. His father was the first vice principal of WCHS.

NOVEMBER “Old Boys Club” of WCC meets every year on the Friday closest to Remembrance Day to commemorate their lost comrades who numbered 48. The group supports WCHS and pledges to continue to do so. To ensure the club’s survival they admit two “New Old Boys” to the club each year. The students are selected on the basis of their academic achievement and involvement in school activities. In 1979 the first female was admitted to the club. The club also has a scholarship fund at the University of Calgary for WCHS graduates.

1982

The torch for the “Old Boys Club” was passed on by Gord Cummings who had ran the club for 56 years.

1998

The WCHS Alumni Association was incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta.

2002

Western Canada High School appoints its first female principal, Linda Raasveldt.

2003

June 27 and 28, 2003 the Alumni Association hosted the 100 Year Reunion Celebration. The Alumni Association presented to Western High School a Grand Piano to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Western Canada High School. The purchase of the piano was made possible by the generous donations of Alumni supporters and the dedicated work of Reunion volunteers.

2004

The Alumni Association Legacy Fund presented the first three bursaries to students pursuing post secondary education.

2009

Largest enrolment ever — 2060 registered.