First Headmaster in the first Wellington District Grammar School
Headmasters and Principals
Arthur Cole Verner, 1841-1847
George Emslie, 1847-1854, Died October 1869
Rev. Edward M. Stewart, 1854-1857
John May, 1857-october, 1860
Charles Walker, October-december, 1860 (Acting Headmaster)
Rev. Francis B. Tisdell, January-september, 1861, Died September 6, 1861
Rev. Henry W. Stewart, 1861-april, 1862
John Ker Johnston, April 1862-april, 1865, Died April, 1865
George Rennie, April 1865-june, 1865 (Acting Headmaster)
James Murison Dunn, 1865-1871, Died 1906
Alfred M. Lafferty, 1872-1874
First black Principal at GCVI
February, 2018 In honour of Black History Month, the school Auditorium was named after him: Alfred M. Lafferty Auditorium
Died October 18, 1912
Dr. William Tytler, 1875-1892
His portrait is the first painted portrait on our Principals Portrait Wall.
1888 -1889 William Tytler was absent due to health.
Died September 13, 1933
James Davison, 1892-1923
1888-1889 Acting Headmaster
1892-1923 Principal
1923-1929 Principal Emeritus
1929 Retired at the age of 81 with 51 years of dedicated service to Guelph Collegiate.
Died March 16, 1935
John (Scotty) Francis ROSS, 1923-1945
First Principal of the new 1923 building
Died October, 1946
1956 John F. Ross Collegiate-Vocational Institute was named after him.
Frederick A. Hamilton, 1945-1955
1955-1965 Director of Guelph Board of Education
1976 Chair of Wellington County Board of Education
Died January 11, 1989
Edward (Lorne) Fox, 1955
Principal for six months
March, 1956 appointed to open J. F. Ross CVI as Principal
John F. Ross CVI Auditorium is after him: The E.L. Fox Auditorium
Died March 11, 1993
Peter (Gordon) Reid, April 1956-1971
The school Library is named after him: P.G. Reid Library Learning Commons
Died September 17, 1996
John (Jack) Francis Burns, 1971-1985
1977-1978 on sabbatical
1978 received Doctor in Education
1985-December 1996:
Appointed Superintendent, Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB
Superintendent of Secondary Programs
Superintendent of Operations
Superintendent of Schools
Died September 20, 2010
William (Bill) Charles Scott, 1985-1988
1988-1994 Appointed Superintendent of Schools, Wellington County Board of Education
1991-1994 Member of Ontario Supervisory Officers Board – for schools in South Western Ontario
2017- Honourary Life Member of the Rotary Club of Guelph
Died October 20, 2019
Robert (Brad) Bruce BRADSTOCK, 1988-1996
1977-1978 Acting Principal while Mr. Burns was on sabbatical
Died April 17, 2014
140th Anniversary Reunion
Bill Scott 1985-1988, P.G. Reid 1956-1971, Bob Bradstock 1988-1996, Jack Burns 1971-1985
David Michael Euale, 1996-1998
1998-2009 Superintendent of Education, Upper Grand DSB
2009-2010 Director of Student Success and Learning to 18, Ontario Ministry of Education
2010-2015 Director of Education, Halton DSB
Judith (Judy) Frances Sorbara, 1998-2008
First female Principal at GCVI
2008-2011 Faculty Advisor, Nipissing University Faculty of Education
2010-2018 Guelph Police Services Board and Chair from 2010-2016
Erin K. Kelly, 2000-February 2001
Acting Principal while Judy Sorbara was on leave
2001-February 2004 Principal, Westside SS
February 2004-June 2004 Principal, Centennial CVI
September 2004-2013 Superintendent of Schools, Upper Grand DSB
2013- Director of Education, Greater Essex County DSB
Wesley (Wes) David Coffey, 2008-2011
2011- Faculty Advisor, Nipissing University Faculty of Education
Julieanne (Julie) Prendergast
2011-January 2018
March 2018-Manager of Secondary Recruitment Staff, Administration, Upper Grand DSB
Principals
Wes Coffey 2008-2011, Bill Scott 1985-1988, Judy Sorbara 1998-2008, David Euale 1996-1998, Bob Bradstock 1977-1978, 1988-1996
160th Anniversary Reunion
Bill Scott 1985-1988, David Euale 1996-1998, Judy Sorbara 1998-2008, Wes Coffey 2008-2011, Julie Prendergast 2011-2018
Robert (Bob) Scott
February 2018 – 2021
James, Cako
September 2021 – Current