Torch - Fall 2016

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| FALL 2016 • TORCH 29
Technician for Havergal Debra Latcham. A bus, known as
Robert’s Bus after its driver, Havergal’s groundskeeper, sped
round the city picking up girls and mistresses from residences and
feeder schools all over the city. The Main School (Jarvis Street)
continued to operate separately until 1933, with a healthy rivalry
developing between the two.
Ellen Knox’s commitment to superior facilities was shared by the
Havergal Old Girls Association (HOGA), which she founded.
HOGA has long been engaged in supporting their improvement.
In 1926, they created the Ellen Knox Library in memory of their
beloved Principal, who died before her new school could be built. In
1985, Old Girls contributed toward the Chapel of St. Cecilia (located
in the Upper School) to mark the retirement of Mary Dennys,
Havergal’s Sixth Principal.
Students, too, have long supported the enhancement of Havergal’s
facilities. For the 1979 expansion, which added the Upper School’s
north wing with new classrooms, laboratories and a resource centre
along with a new gym, library and classrooms for the Junior School,
Havergal students raised $70,000.
Other major additions took place in 1937 (classrooms, chemistry and
physics labs, a household science wing, a Boarders’ common room
and staff quarters, thanks to a gift from the Leonard Foundation),
1947 (the assembly hall), 1957 (classrooms, administrative space, a
gym and a pool), 1999 (the Legacy Theatre, music hall, Hawkings
Dining Hall, Temerty Commons and new Junior School) and 2006
(the Athletic Centre and Dr. Catherine Steele 1928 Archives).
Today, Havergal’s facilities encompass 200,000 square feet of buildings
on 22 acres, including the bustling Junior and Upper Schools, an
administrative building (South House) and the Principal’s residence.
A 20-person facilities staff takes care of the buildings and grounds
and provide 24-7 security for the school’s 900 students, including the
50 who live on campus. The team is currently working to restore the
ravine and forest to its Carolinian roots. They also support the many
events, sporting activities and meetings held by Havergal’s active
community of students, parents, Old Girls and friends.
“Our mission is to provide spaces that inspire learning,” says
Director of Facilities Lisa Massie. “We no longer teach in square
boxes as in the 70s and 80s. The facilities must reflect the type of
teaching that we want to do.”
Under the direction of Helen-Kay Davy, Havergal will reimagine its
learning spaces with a view to integrating innovative technologies
and fostering collaborative learning. We are lucky indeed that all
this can happen in the jewel of green space so boldly secured by
Ellen Knox nearly 100 years ago.
Top left: Construction on our current campus (1451 Avenue Rd.) began in 1924. Top right: The new Havergal was built by 1926.
Bottom left: An aerial view of Havergal in 1961. Bottom right: The Upper School today.