St. Andrew's College (SAC) is an independent boarding and day school founded in 1899 and located in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is a university-preparatory school for boys in grades 5 to 12, with a focus on academic achievement, athletics, and leadership development. It is accredited by the Canadian Educational Standards Institute and is affiliated with other associations, including CAIS, CASE, NAIS and the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC). The school's coat of arms was registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on August 15, 2006.

History

St. Andrew's College was originally located at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Roxborough Avenue in the Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto, in a mansion named Chestnut Park that was previously owned by Sir David Macpherson. The school opened on September 10, 1899, under the direction of Headmaster the Rev. Dr. George Bruce. The first student to enroll was Douglas W. Fraser ('06). By the end of the first school year, there were 56 students, including 13 boarders.

The Rev. Dr. George Bruce was succeeded as Headmaster in 1900 by the Rev. Dr. Bruce Macdonald, and in 1901, the school published its first yearbook – The Review. The Old Boys Association, still active presently, was founded in 1903.

In 1905, due to the increasing size of the student body, the school moved to a new campus within Rosedale, west of MacLennan Avenue, from Summerhill Avenue to Douglas Drive just north of Rosedale Field, in a large Collegiate Gothic structure. The Rosedale Campus was designed to serve 150 boarders, 300 day boys, and 9 masters.

By 1909, the school had students from Canada, Jamaica, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, China, and Bermuda. In 1911, the school became a corporation under the control of a Board of Governors.

Over 600 Old Boys fought in the First World War, and 104 lost their lives, along with 2 masters. From 1918 to 1920, the school temporarily moved to Knox College, since the Rosedale Campus was serving as a military hospital for soldiers who were wounded during the war.

The school made its final move in 1926 to Aurora, where the current campus occupies a site in a suburban environment. Its Georgian Revival architecture is built around the traditional quadrangle form. The Memorial Gateway entrance was completed in 1928.

Over 600 Old Boys served during the Second World War, and 45 lost their lives. Plaques listing the names of those who lost their lives are displayed in the Memorial Chapel.

In 1956, the school magazine The Andrean was created, and it has been published ever since.

There are four boarding houses on campus, which is home to approximately half of the 651 boys. Many members of the faculty also live on campus.

The Aurora campus was featured in the filming of Cadet Kelly, and in the fifth episode of the Netflix mini-series The Queen's Gambit.

Cadet Corps

St. Andrew's is home to Canada's second-largest Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps. Established in 1905, the #142 St. Andrew's College Highland Cadet Corps is now a multi-year leadership program, but it still culminates in an annual inspection and parade in April.

The cadet corps was raised in the fall of 1905, following the model of military training offered at Upper Canada College and Trinity College School. The corps was under the direction of schoolteacher and militiaman Capt. Grant Cooper and Drill Instructor Sgt. Alfred R. Hatt, who had fought with the Gordon Highlanders at Chitral and in South Africa. The first Cadet Inspection was held at the Rosedale Campus on May 14, 1906, under the Command of Captain Cooper, and the first student cadet commander was First Lieutenant Vincent Massey. On April 24, 1906, the corps made its first public appearance at Queen's Park, where it was reviewed by the Duke of Connaught, and on May 18, it participated in training drills with the 48th Highlanders. The cadet corps provided a guard of honour during the Royal Tour of 1939.

The school's cadet corps was affiliated with the 48th Highlanders of Canada from its inception, as the commanding officer of the regiment was Col. William C. Macdonald, cousin to headmaster Bruce Macdonald. The corps retains the same motto ("Dileas Gu Brath" – "Faithful Forever"), as well as uniform (scarlet tunic and Modern Gordon tartan). In 2005, the centennial year, the corps was granted the Freedom of the City of Aurora.

Pipes and Drums

The Pipes and Drums band is an integral part of the cadet corps and one of its best-known elements. The Pipes and Drums were established in 1915 under the tutelage of Pipe Major James Fraser of the 48th Highlanders, formerly of the Gordon Highlanders, who had fought at Dargai and in South Africa. In 1941, a jaguar skin that had been shot by Theodore Roosevelt was donated to the college to be worn by the bass drummer.

The primary responsibility of the Pipes and Drums band is to provide music for the Battalion when it is on the march. In this role, the band is front and centre during the Annual Church Parade, the Head of School's Parade, and the Annual Cadet Inspection in April.

Internationally renowned as "North America's piping heartland" for its Piping and Drumming program, St. Andrew's College attracts hundreds of potential pipers each year to its summer "Ontario School of Piping and Drumming at St. Andrew's College" camp. In June 2019, the decision was made to field a competitive band in grade 2 alongside the existing band, which competed in grade 5.

Headmasters The Rev. Dr. George Bruce (1899–1900) The Rev. Dr. Bruce Macdonald (1900–1935) Dr. Kenneth Ketchum (1935–1942, 1945–1958) J.C. Garret – Acting Head (1942–1945) Joseph Robert Coulter (1958–1974) Dr. Thomas Hockin (1974–1981) Robert Bédard (1981–1997) E.G. "Ted" Staunton (1997–2009) Kevin McHenry (2009–2027) Colby Dockerty (2027-)

Kevin McHenry is set to retire after the 2026-2027 school year

Academics The school's mission statement is Dedicating ourselves to the development of the complete man, the well-rounded citizen. Every classroom and common area at St. Andrew's College is covered by a wireless network. The faculty is divided into 12 departments, those being Business, Computer Science and Engineering, Drama, English, Guidance and Career Education, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Music, Science, Visual Arts, and World Studies.

The students have a broad selection of courses available to them from the fine arts, to the humanities, social sciences, science, and engineering. Many AP courses are also offered, for example AP Chemistry, AP Capstone, AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Economics, AP Biology, and AP Computer science, among others. SAC has a 100% university acceptance rate and graduates move on to post-secondary education around the world, including Canadian, American and British universities.

Athletics Sports are considered an essential part of school life and culture; 72 teams across 22 sports are offered by the school. St. Andrew's College is one of the original members of Ontario's "Little Big Four" (the others being Ridley College, Trinity College School, and Upper Canada College). The photographs of each year's representative teams line the walls along the first and second floors of the Bedard Athletic Centre. Sports are mandatory — all Upper School boys must participate in two out of three sports terms during the year, while Middle School students must participate in all three terms.

St. Andrew's has a tradition of sporting, as shown by its participation in both private and public school leagues and associations:

Private schools competition Little Big Four (L.B.F.) 1899–1968 Independent School League (I.S.L.) 1968–1982 Independent Schools Athletic Association (I.S.A.A.) 1982–1993 Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (C.I.S.A.A.)1993–present Canadian Association of Independent Schools (C.A.I.S.) 1981–present Public schools competition York Region Secondary Schools Athletic Association (Y.R.S.S.A.A.) 1971–1995 Georgian Bay Secondary Schools Athletic Association (G.B.S.S.A.A.) 1973–1986 Durham-York Secondary Schools Athletic Association (D.Y.S.S.A.A.) 1986–1995 York Region Athletic Association (Y.R.A.A.) 1995–2004 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (O.F.S.A.A.) 1948–present

St. Andrew's College has representative teams for the following sports, in addition to the Craze Sports intramural program:

Fall Football Cross country Soccer Volleyball

Winter Alpine skiing Basketball Biathlon Curling Fencing Hockey Nordic skiing Squash Swimming

Spring Badminton Baseball Cricket Golf Lacrosse Rugby Tennis Track and field Triathlon Ultimate Frisbee

School events

Each year, St. Andrew's hosts events that are unique to the School. Some of these activities and events involve the entire student body, while others are directed towards alumni and their friends and families. These events serve different purposes, some of which are integral to the School's identity while others are used for fundraising causes.

Annual Cadet Inspection – the annual Cadet Inspection is mandatory for the entire student body at St. Andrew's. The Inspection is usually held in April and invites prominent representatives from all across Canada to inspect the School's Cadet Corps. A tradition that finds its root since 1906, the annual inspection is integral to the School's identity and preserving both the School's Scottish background, and the history of the Cadet Corps. An Andrean Christmas – The annual Andrean Christmas is held at Roy Thompson Hall in December and showcases the School's musicians and singers. Like the annual Cadet Inspection, An Andrean Christmas is a mandatory event for all students, and traditionally, Old Boys will return to attend the performance and join in the singing of Amazing Grace and the Dorset Carol. It replaces the tradition of an annual Carol Service in the holiday season. Focus Festival of the Arts – This program is a three-day festival of plays, a film festival, visual arts, music, and social events for students, parents, and guests. Boys who have never been involved in drama or on the stage before are encouraged to participate by writing their own plays, directing, producing or acting in performances large and small while musicians give concerts throughout the festival. Annual Fall Play – An annual Broadway-level play or musical put on for parents, students, and staff during the month of November in the Wirth Theatre. Celtic Concert – This musical offering showcases the School's Pipes and Drums and often features the other school bands, soloists, percussionists and dancers. It highlights traditional Celtic music, military band music, and some show tunes. Homecoming – an annual gathering of all St. Andrew's alumni in September. Held in conjunction with the 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 reunion dinners, this annual gathering is for the entire Andrean community. The Homecoming celebration includes games for the children in the Quad and in the Great Hall, and various sports competitions, culminating in the annual 1st Football match against rivals UCC on the Yuill Turf Field. MacPherson Tournament – an annual hockey event where the St. Andrew's varsity hockey team competes with hockey teams from other top schools for the MacPherson Cup. The cup is named after three Andreans: Lloyd MacPherson, Jim Hamilton and Bob Meagher, all of whom loved hockey with passion and contributed greatly to the St. Andrew's hockey team. The tournament has a North American flavour, hosting schools from Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Quebec, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, New York, Nova Scotia and Michigan as well as a variety of regions in Ontario.History