People who are moving to the Georgian Triangle area often ask about school information for the area. 

There are a wide range of choices in the public, separate and private sectors.  The first consideration is which County you will reside in.  Homes located in Grey County (including Blue Mountain, Meaford and Grey Highlands) fall under the Blue Water or Bruce-Grey District while properties in Simcoe County (including Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Stayner and Creemore) fall into the Simcoe District.

Below is a list of options with links to each school website.  As of September, 2010, full-day Kindergarten will also now be offered at Admiral Public School, Clearview Meadows and St. Mary’s.

For those interested in school ratings, two links are provided at the end of this list.  Regardless of what they say, I can tell you that families in each of these schools are fiercely proud and will tell you that theirs is the best!

SIMCOE COUNTY

School Boards:
Public:   Simcoe County District School Board 
Catholic:    Simcoe – Muskoka Catholic District School Board

Extended French Programs offered at the following schools:
Admiral Collingwood
Collingwood Collegiate Institute

Schools in Collingwood:
Admiral Collingwood Elementary School  K – 8
Cameron Street Public School K – 8
Connaught Public School  K – 8
Mountainview Public School  K – 8
St. Mary’s Catholic School  K – 8

Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI)  Gr.  9 – 12
Jean Vanier Catholic High School  Gr.  9 – 12

Georgian College

Nottawa:   Nottawa Elementary School  K – 8
Duntroon:   Duntroon Central Public School   JK – 8
Creemore:   Nottawasaga & Creemore Public School  JK – 8

Stayner:
Clearview Meadows Elementary School  K – 8
Byng Public School  K – 8

Stayner Collegiate Institute (SCI)  Gr. 9 – 12

Wasaga Beach

Birchview Dunes Elementary School  K – 8
Worsley Elementary School K- 8
St. Noel Chabanel Catholic School  JK – 8

GREY COUNTY

School Boards
Public:  Bluewater District School Board
Catholic:  Bruce – Grey Catholic District School Board

Extended French Programs offered at the following schools:
Meaford Community School
St. Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary School
Georgian Bay Secondary School

Schools in Thornbury:  Beaver Valley Community School  JK – 8

Meaford:
St. Vincent-Euphrasia Elementary School   JK-5
Meaford Community School  JK – 8

Georgian Bay Secondary School   Gr.  9 – 12

Maxwell:  Osprey Central School JK – 8

Flesherton:  Grey Highlands Secondary School  Gr.  9 – 12

Private Schools:
Clearview Montessori School  Pre-school through Gr. 6
National Ski Academy 
Pretty River Academy Pre-school to Gr. 12
Silvercrest Christian School  JK – 8
Rocklyn Academy Special Needs, Female, Secondary

Check School Ratings and Reports:
Fraser Institute School Performance Reports (Ontario)
Search EQAO School Reports and Test Results

Nothing fires up debate in Collingwood better than a plan to tear down a heritage building.  Every time the issue arises, entrenched camps form with flaring tempers, passionate appeals and political hand wringing.  There have often been lines drawn in the sand:  tear it down or, fix it and leave it.  Neither seems right to me.

In the last few years, the issue has come up over and over again as the town struggles with the impact of enormous growth pressures.   Many of the properties are public assets such as old schools and the question of maintenance, restoration falls to municipal shoulders.
Some people look at an old building and see an unsafe, derelict and ugly structure that is better torn down and replaced by something more modern and functional.  Others see a piece of our cultural heritage that tells the story of our people and our town.  Both sides can agree that when it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

One such property under threat at present is the old Connaught school on Napier Street which is also known as the Contact Centre or Collingwood Fitness Centre.  This town owned structure is one of the last turn-of-the-century institutional buildings left and it features architecture that is never duplicated today.  But it’s more than that.  If the walls could talk, it would peal with the laughter of children who arrived by horse and buggy rather than by bus.  It would speak of foreboding teachers who comforted and protected children during two world wars and the great depression.

As a town owned fitness centre, this building has deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance and likely from the effects of humidity related to the indoor therapeutic pool.  It has not been remotely self-sufficient and is heavily subsidized by tax dollars for the relatively few people who make use of the facility.  On the other hand, it is an important public asset and there is a plan under foot to replace it with a more modern facility in a different location.  Bu then what happens to the building?

The Collingwood heritage committee is looking at developing a statement of cultural heritage value for the property; potentially a first step in having it designated as a heritage site.  I can see the battle lines being drawn already.

I am firmly on the side of protecting our heritage assets and believe that there are ways to satisfy all parties.  Creative adaptive re-uses can be found for our heritage buildings that preserve and renew the structures at the same time giving them new life and new use.  Let’s hope everyone is starting to think about options for this building; not drawing firm lines in the sand.

According to the 2001 Census, almost 15% of the Collingwood population identified themselves as being Anglican.  Locally, that congregation is served by All Saints’ Anglican Church located on Elgin Street opposite St. Mary’s Catholic Church downtown.

This church is said to be one of the most beautiful historic churches in Ontario and, it stands as one of the most significant early buildings in Collingwood.  I’ve often noticed people painting pictures or taking photographs of the adjoining former manse which is seen in galleries or books across the country.

The church was erected in 1858 and expanded in 1876.  From the history section of their website, “Over its long history, the church has been enhanced by a number of memorials, including magnificent stained glass windows, white oak organ case and marble font as well as unique brass pulpit and lectern, a beautiful and distinctive altar and a dramatic relief carving of “The Last Supper”.”

There is a terrific profile on the Heritage Collingwood site about the rectory building that includes a detailed history and beautiful photographs.  Next time you pass these buildings, I’d really recommend taking some time to really notice how special they are.

When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

Collingwood has some beautiful churches.

According to the 2001 census, about 1 in 4 local people did not identify themselves as having any particular religious affiliation however, that means about 75% of people do.  Church life plays a prominent role in society and perhaps more so in small communities.  The census reported that close to 16% of the Collingwood population identified themselves as being Roman Catholic and locally, that congregation is served by the beautiful St. Mary’s Church, “Our Lady of the Lake.”

According to Heritage Collingwood, the first Catholic Church in Collingwood was blessed in 1858 and was then located on Pine Street.  In 1888, the new church was built at the corner of Ontario and Elgin Streets where it still remains.  It’s a lovely building with a tall Church tower, arched windows and notable brickwork.  Incidentally, the land where it sits was donated by Mr. Thomas Long – the same family that donated the land for Collingwood’s present library at Second and Pine Streets.

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When it’s time to buy or sell real estate in the Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Georgian Triangle area, contact Marg, an experienced and competent Broker who’s ready whenever you are!

The school with the deepest roots in the Collingwood community would surely have to be Admiral Collingwood Elementary School.  Most of the “locals” I have met over the last couple of decades attended that very school and everyone has a story to tell.

The first school sat at the corner of Hume and Hurontario Street and was originally built in the 1920’s as the Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI) High School.  In 1958, a new school was built for CCI farther south down Hurontario Street at which point the original school became home to Collingwood’s Senior Public School for Grade 7 and 8 students.  In the early 1980’s, the school changed again into a full elementary school serving Kindergarten to Grade 8.  In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, discussions were held about closing the school.  Emotions ran deep.  Many of the populace had attended this school and, the architecture and majesty of the old school had historical significance.  Ultimately, the old school was torn down and a new Admiral Collingwood Elementary School  was built in 2003 on its current site at Dey Drive in the south east part of Collingwood.

The school continues to have a fantastic reputation.  According to the Principal’s message on their website, they have a student population of about 350 people.  They offer the extended French program for Grades 5 to 8 and, they are on a balanced school day schedule with breaks from 10:25 am-11:10 am and 12:50 pm-1:35 pm.

Related Posts:

The Magic Of Children
Collingwood’s New Library Will Be Gold

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