2003 – This was the double cohort school year and the loss of the grade 13 OAC year.
2004 – The 150th Anniversary Reunion took place. A Time Capsule was buried in the Japanese Gardens which will be dug up in 2029, the 175th anniversary of our school.
2007 – In 2005 the GCVI Alumni began the two year process of obtaining a Coat of Arms for the school.
2009-2017 – The school went through major renovations and upgrades for many years: the work-out room acquired major equipment, the small gym floor repaired, the office floor had major structural repair, locker fronts upgraded, painting, science lab counter-tops, music room and exercise room upgrades, staff room renovations, main water services and electrical upgrades as well as a new ceiling and lighting on the main floor.
2009 – The GCVI Greening Committee started their planning to improve our campus landscape in 2007. During the 2009 school year they planted shrubs and spring flowers, over 50 trees, landscaped in rocks, made new paths, benches and the tennis courts were torn down and replaced by basketball courts on the back campus.
2012 – McCrae Victory Arboretum, GCVI’s tree sanctuary, is dedicated to the protection and propagation of our native trees and to the education on the benefits of urban forestry and was initiated in 2007. It was named The John McCrae Victory Arboretum in 2012, in memory of former student, John McCrae. GCVI is pleased to establish our campus as an arboretum, making it the first high school in Canada to do so.
2014 – The 160th Anniversary Reunion took place.
2015 – The Johnny Barnes statue stands 6′ tall and weighs about 1,000 kilograms. Johnny Barnes was a black Bermuda man known for waving and greeting commuters daily. Although not a GCVI student, he represents the diversity of our school culture and the GCVI welcoming spirit. The statue stands on the front lawn of the school on Paisley Street.
2016 – The outdoor Commemorative Archway was unveiled representing the gateway to knowledge. Situated on the school’s front lawn, South East corner, and was completed to commemorate GCVI’s 160th anniversary which took place in 2014. GCVI has been situated on the same site since 1854.
2016 – In 2014 GCVI was a candidate school, pursuing authorization to offer the Grade 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. In the Spring of 2016, GCVI was authorized to teach The International Baccalaureate Organization program and is now an official IB World School. The first graduates of this program will be the Class of 2018. To prepare students for the Diploma Program we offer a grade 9 and 10 Preparatory Program. The Diploma Program prepares students for life beyond schooling to acquire the skills and knowledge to deal with the challenges in our 21st century world.
2018 – The new music room at the school was completed. It was designed to meet the needs of the growing music program at GCVI. The room has high ceilings, open space and several acoustic panels on the walls to absorb and bounce sound. Along with the large main room, the redesigned room also features smaller soundproof studio space and rehearsal modules.
2018 – An elevator was installed in the 1923 building and functional by the end of the year.
2019 – We are one of six Upper Grand DSB to be a certified platinum Ontario EcoSchool, for an award winning environmental education certification program.
2019 School Photo
2019 School Photo
2019 Close up of Johnny Barnes
2018 The New Music Room
2014 The Arboretum in process.
2019 Back Campus Outdoor Classroom with the Basketball Courts behind it.
2012 John McCrae Victory Arboretum
2015 Johnny Barnes 6′ statue was placed on the front lawn of the school on Paisley Street.
The back Campus before the Arboretum was built