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Fisher Park High School
Location
Ottawa
,
Ontario

Canada
Information
Motto"Esto Dignus",
("Be Worthy",)
Founded1949
Closed1987
School boardOttawa Carleton District School Board
Grades9-13
Enrollment490 (founding)- 1,900 (peak)- 500 (closure)
LanguageEnglish, French
CampusUrban
Colour(s)  Red and   White
Communities servedRiver Ward, with College Ward and Knoxdale-Merivale Ward; Island Park, Bel-Air Park and Bel-Air Heights, Copeland Park and Carlington neighbourhoods
Feeder schoolsJ. H. Putman Public School, D. Roy Kennedy Public School, St. Joseph Intermediate School

Fisher Park High School (1949–1987) is a closed High School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Located within a kilometre of Island Park Drive, at 250 Holland Ave., Fisher Park's student population included children of many of Ottawa's wealthier citizens and a large contingent of Ottawa's Portuguese and Italian communities. The area contains a number of embassies, and occasionally the children of ambassadors attended the school.

History

The story of Fisher Park began in 1945 when Ottawa had only four high schools, and a plan was underway by the Collegiate Institute Board (a cooperation between the Ottawa Separate School Board and the Ottawa Public School Board) to build Ottawa its fifth high school in what was then referred to as the West End. On July 25, 1945, after much debate, Fisher Park was chosen as the site for the new school, and was touted "the most up-to-date building for student and community use that can be built." On December 21, 1946, the Ontario Department of Education announced approval of the school's plans, and building would begin in the spring. The school was estimated to cost $1,450,000.

On November 12, 1948, His Excellency Viscount Alexander, Governor General of Canada, laid the cornerstone of Fisher Park High School.

Fisher Park High School from Holland Ave.

By 1949, however, cost overruns in the building of the school were "deplored" and resulted in a protest by the Board of Trade. "The additional cost of Fisher High School will have a very decided impact on Ottawa's taxpayers" said Roy F. Fleming, the secretary of the Property Owner's Association at the time. Many felt that there was an over-emphasis on recreation (the plan had been to make Fisher Park not only a high school but also a community centre). Plans to make the small gym into a pool, as well as a "girls" gym on the second floor, were scrapped.

Nevertheless, Fisher Park High School opened with the first day of classes on September 6, 1949. Construction continued for the entire first year of the school. Fisher Park was officially opened by the Honourable Leslie Frost (Premier of Ontario 1949-61) on May 2, 1951. The school was named after a former Ottawa mayor and "distinguished Canadian", Harold Fisher.

In 1950, a contest was held to name the Fisher Park yearbook. Out of over 200 entries, a student named John Foulds won a cash prize for his suggestion: "Fi Pa Hi."

When Laurentian High School opened in September 1958, 600 students enrolled, which was twice the number that had been expected. The LHS students reduced overcrowding at Nepean High School (Ottawa) and Fisher Park High School. Fisher High's enrolment dropped from 1,900 to 1,439 students.[1]

During the late 1960s and early '70s the Ottawa School Board experimented at Fisher Park with extended freedom for students, e.g., allowing optional attendance at class and exemption from exams if they maintained consistently high grades.

On November 28, 1966 the Auditorium of Fisher Park High School was the location of the Ottawa debut of Janet Baker.[2][3][4]

In 1969, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau sent a letter of greetings to the students of the school for its 20th anniversary. The letter was published in the 68-69 Fi Pa Hi.

For 38 years, Fisher Park High was a proud, strong school described as "a student's dream come true," and claimed the distinction of being Ottawa's first composite vocational school, teaching academic subjects along with metalwork, woodwork, machine/auto shop, electricity, drama, arts, as well as finance and business. The first student body was 491 students in grades 9 and 10, and it peaked at 1,900 students in 1958, before the opening of Laurentian High which cut Fisher Park's population back to 1,439 in 1961. This number remained relatively stable for decades.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fisher Park's home rooms and intramural sports teams were subdivided into six coloured 'houses'. Upon arrival to the school, a student was assigned to a 'house' and remained in that house for their entire stay at Fisher Park. The six houses were Blue, Green, Orange, Red, White and Yellow. [5] Points were awarded for the results of all intramural sports and a winning house was named at the end of each academic year with an appropriately coloured banner raised in the large gymnasium to honour that house.

On October 25-26th, 1974, a 25th Reunion was held at Fisher Park. Hundreds of Fisher Park graduates returned to the school for festivities.

An excerpt from the yearbook entry about the 25th reunion:

"...All the students involved saw that hundreds of graduates were enthusiastically returning to Fisher Park to salute it. Their obvious pride in their old school, and the smiles of their faces as they recalled old memories at the Dinner Dance on Saturday night proved to be contagious. As one Fisher student remarked, "Nowhere have I seen so many people having such a really great time."

On July 16, 1986, the then trustees of the OBE voted (9-7) to close Fisher Park High School. Few FPHS students who were at the school in 1986 will forget an assembly at which Trustee Alex Cullen promised to help keep the school open, and then reneged and voted to close it.[citation needed] FPHS was thereby closed by the Ottawa Board of Education, effective in 1987, due to declining attendance.

The school crest was designed by Mr. Robert Walker, then the art director of Fisher Park High School's vocational art course, in the summer of 1952. The crest represented all courses within Fisher Park. The open book on the crest is symbolic of the general course, the open book representing learning. The three smaller panels below represent the three other courses at Fisher, the technical course, the art course, and the commercial course. A T-square, flask, cogwheel and electrical spark represent the technical course, the ship of commerce represents the commercial course, and the art section represented by a palette, brushes, pen and ink. The motto "Esto[6] Dignus", "Be Worthy", was given to Fisher Park by its first vice-principal, Mr. L. McCarthy." - 69-70 Fi-Pa-Hi Yearbook

In 1994 the school reopened as Fisher Park Public School, a middle-school for students in grades 7 and 8. The building is also shared with the Summit Alternative School.

School Song

Fisher Park had a school song/fight song as follows [7]

For Fisher high we'll do or die,
We're proud to sing our praises
We're fit we're trim, we're in the swim
Look out for Fisher High,
Stand up and fight for the scarlet and the white,
We're proud of the mark that's made by Fisher Park,
Our team's the best, they play with zest
Our scholarship amazes,
So here's a toast to Ottawa's most,
Three cheers for Fisher High
Hip Hip Hurrah (3 times)

Notable Sports Championships

The following varsity sports teams had major successes:

  • 1961 Senior Football Team won the City Championship [8]
  • 1963 Varsity Hockey Team went undefeated the entire season and won the City Championship against Glebe [9]
  • 1969 Senior Football Team won the City Championship, defeating Glebe 14-0 at Campbell Stadium [9]
  • 1977 Senior Football Team won the City Championship, defeating Laurentian Lions, 6-1; then won the Ottawa Carleton Championship, defeating J.S. Woodsworth 46-0. [10]

Principals

Principals at FPHS included:

  • W. B. Wallen (Fall 1949 to Spring 1958) [11]
  • J. M. Robbie (Fall 1958 to Spring 1963) [8] [9] (Died June 1977) [12]
  • J. G. Enns (Fall 1963 to Spring 1972) [9] (Died September 1974) [13]
  • Glen Pettinger (Fall 1972 to Spring 1979)[10] (Died October 2019) [14]
  • J. J. Gillespie (Fall 1979 to Spring 1983)[10] (Died January 2011) [15]
  • G. McMahon (Fall 1983 to Spring 1985) [16] (Died May 2019) [17]
  • S. G. Thompson (Fall 1985 to Spring 1987) [5]

Vice Principals

Vice Principals at FPHS included:

  • L. McCarthy (Fall 1950 to Spring 1957)[11] [8]
  • J. G. Enns (Fall 1957 to Spring 1961)[8]
  • Mr. O'Connor (Fall 1961 to Spring 1963)[9]
  • M. F. McHugh (Fall 1963 to ????)[9]
  • H. Boyce (???? to Spring 1976)[10]
  • T. A. White (Fall 1976 to Spring 1983)[10]
  • S. G. Thompson (Fall 1978 to Spring 1985)[10]
  • Mrs. Robinson (Fall 1983 to Spring 1987) (First, and only, female VP)[5]
  • Mr. Patton (Fall 1985 to Spring 1987)[5]

Teachers

Teachers at FPHS included:

Name Department Start End Currently References
Albert, Mr. H. Technical/Automotive 1966 1987 [5] [9] [10]
Ambros, Mrs. Elena Physical Education 1978 1987 Retired 2020 [5] [10] [18]
Barazzuol, Ms. Carol Anne English 1972 1985 Retired 2015 [10] [16] [19]
Brown, Mrs. Margaret English 1964 1987 Died May 9, 2000 [9] [10] [5] [20]
Brown, Mr. Tom Science/Environmental 1970 1987 [9] [10] [5]
Burns/Tate, Mrs. Sue Physical Education 1971 1987 Retired [10] [21] [16] [5]
Charette, Mr. Graham Guidance 1968 1987 Retired 2005 [5] [9] [10] [22]
Cooper, Mr. Neville History 1964 1987 Died [9] [10] [21] [16] [5]
Cote, Mr. Michel History 1983 1986 Retired 2018 [16] [23] [24]
Courchene, Mrs. Paulette History 1978 1987 Retired 2009 [5] [10] [25]
Cross, Ms. Library 1985 1987 [5] [23]
Dagenais, Mr. Bob French 1983 1987 Killed Nov 23, 2002 [5] [26]
Derry, Mr. Bob French 1972 1987 Retired 2015 [5] [10] [27]
Dumouchel, Mr. Bryan Physical Education 1983 1987 Retired 2012 [5] [28]
Elichuk, Mr. Richard Math 1985 1987 Retired 2007 [5] [23] [29]
Erdstein, Mrs. Joanne Languages 1968 1987 Retired 2001 [9] [10] [5] [30]
Gillissie, Mr. Jim English 1976 1983 Retired 2008 [10] [31]
Gowling, Mr. George Business 1983 1987 Retired 2013 [16] [23] [5] [32]
Haggar, Mr. Richard (Rick) Drama 1985 1987 Primary School Principal [23] [5] [33]
Handy, Mr. Norman English 1966 1987 Retired 2003 [9] [10] [21] [23] [5] [34]
Holst, Ms. Evelyn Drama 1968 1985 Retired 2016 [9] [10] [21] [16] [35]
Huebener, Mrs. Roberta Art 1983 1987 Retired 2015 [16] [23] [5] [36]
Ingram, Mr. Graham Music/Band 1977 1987 Retired 2015 [10] [21] [16] [23] [5] [37]
Katz, Mr. Sid English 1965 1983 Retired 2001 [9] [10] [21] [38]
MacGregor, Mr. Robert Science 1962 1987 Died October 24, 2017 [9] [10] [21] [5] [39]
MacIntosh, Mr. William Science 1968 1987 Retired 2004 [9] [10] [21] [5] [40]
Morrow, Mr. Bob Business 1969 1987 Retired 2014 [10] [21] [5]
Norton, Mrs. Peggy Languages 1984 1987 Retired 2007 [16] [5] [41]
Roy, Mr. Aldo Business 1982 1987 Retired 2002 [21][16] [5] [42] [43]
Stephenson, Mrs. Joanna Science 1967 1987 Died January 30 2020 [9] [10] [21] [5] [44]
Taucer, Ms. Egizia Languages 1981 1986 Active [21] [23] [45]
Tomiuk, Ms. Joan Math 1984 1987 Retired 2003 [16] [23] [5][46]
Van Vliet, Ms. Beverley Library 1969 1987 [9] [10] [21] [5]
Varga, Mr. Istvan (Steve) Math 1975 1985 [10] [21] [16] [47]
Wyatt, Mr. Neil Physical Education 1973 1987 On leave from fall 1984 to spring 1986/Retired 2014 [10] [21] [16] [5][48]

Notable alumni

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "The Journal Visits Ottawa Highschools".
  2. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  3. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  4. ^ "Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag FI PA HI Yearbook 86-87, Volume 38, 1987.
  6. ^ "Home - Fisher Park Reunion". fisherpark.proboards.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  7. ^ "84_commencement.pdf".
  8. ^ a b c d FI-PA-HI, Annual Yearbook Compendium, 1956 to 1962; Fisher Park High School Library
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s FI-PA-HI, Annual Yearbook Compendium, 1962 to 1970; Fisher Park High School Library
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "FI PA HI 75 - 80".
  11. ^ a b FI-PA-HI, Annual Yearbook Compendium, 1949 to 1956; Fisher Park High School Library
  12. ^ Ottawa Journal Birth Marriage and Death Notices, June 9, 1977
  13. ^ Ottawa Journal Birth Marriage and Death Notices, September 14 1974
  14. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers".
  15. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers James Gillespie".
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n FI PA HI Yearbook 84-85, Volume 36, 1985.
  17. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers".
  18. ^ "findateacher Ambros".
  19. ^ "findateacher Barazzuol".
  20. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers Brown".
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p FI PA HI Yearbook 82-83, Volume 34, 1983.
  22. ^ "findateacher Charette".
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j FI PA HI Yearbook 85-86, Volume 37, 1986.
  24. ^ "findateacher Cote".
  25. ^ "findateacher Courchene".
  26. ^ "Students Mourn Murdered Ottawa Teachers".
  27. ^ "findateacher Derry".
  28. ^ "findateacher Dumouchel".
  29. ^ "findateacher Elichuk".
  30. ^ "findateacher Erdstein".
  31. ^ "findateacher Gillissie".
  32. ^ "findateacher Gowling".
  33. ^ "findateacher Haggar".
  34. ^ "findateacher Handy".
  35. ^ "findateacher Holst".
  36. ^ "findateacher Huebener".
  37. ^ "findateacher Ingram".
  38. ^ "findateacher Katz".
  39. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers MacGregor".
  40. ^ "findateacher MacIntosh".
  41. ^ "findateacher Norton".
  42. ^ "findateacher Roy".
  43. ^ "Wikipedia Aldo Roy".
  44. ^ "Ottawa Citizen Remembers Stephenson".
  45. ^ "findateacher Taucer".
  46. ^ "findateacher Tomiuk".
  47. ^ "findateacher Varga".
  48. ^ "findateacher Wyatt".
  49. ^ Bobby Soxers

References

  • The Evening Citizen (newspaper), Dec.21, 1946, front page, "Approve Fisher School Plan"
  • The Evening Citizen (newspaper), Nov. 13, 1948, "Alexander Lays Stone at Fisher Park School"
  • Ottawa Journal (newspaper), May 3, 1951, page 10, "At Fisher Park, Frost(y) Friday Free"
  • Ottawa Citizen (newspaper), May 3, 1951, page 19, "Fisher Park High School Officially Opened by Premier Frost".
  • Ottawa Citizen (newspaper), July 16, 1986, "OBE Trustees Reject Bid to Spare Fisher Park" Cathy Campbell and Jacquie Miller, Citizen Staff writers
  • Fisher Park High School Yearbooks (the FiPaHi), 1950-51 (Issue 2), 1968-69 (Issue 20), 1969-70 (Issue 21), and 1974-75 (Issue 26)
  • Keith, Janet. The Collegiate Institute Board of Ottawa: A Short History, 1843-1969. Ottawa: Kent, 1969.


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