Eastwood Collegiate Institute
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| Eastwood Collegiate Institute | |
 From the East Comes Light |
|
| Address | |
| 760 Weber Street East Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 1H6, Canada |
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| Information | |
| School board | Waterloo Region District School Board |
| Principal | Nancy Strobel |
| Vice principal | Hugh Lambert, Ron DeBoer |
| School type | High School |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Language | English |
| Area | Kingsdale, Rockway, Chicopee |
| Mascot | The Rebel Lion |
| Team name | Rebels |
| Colours | Red, Grey, White |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Enrollment | ~1300 (September 2006) |
| Homepage | http://eci.wrdsb.on.ca |
Eastwood Collegiate Institute is a public high school located at 760 Weber Street East in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1956. The school teams are known as the "Rebels", and its motto is Ex Oriente Lux.
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[edit] Construction
The school was built in 1956, located on what was then the recently extended East Avenue (now Weber Street). The architect for the building was the company of Barnett & Rieder. Most of the school consists of a long classroom block that runs parallel to Weber Street. There is a large entrance stair at the south side of the classroom block, with the school offices to the north and the gymnasium, whose walls are of ribbed brick, to the south. The architecture of the school received international attention when it opened.
[edit] Crest
The School's crest was designed by Former Eastwood Student Doug Rickert in 1957. Designed to reveal both the school's name but also the components of its life blood. According to the 1956-1957 Eastwood Yearbook, CHIPS, "The rising sun...denotes not only 'East', but also the light given by our leadership to other schools and the community around us. The maple leaves provide the 'wood', and in addition signify our pride in holding a place in the educational system of Canada. The open book signifies the great store of knowledge readily available, and the desire to receive it, both present in our school. The motto...has also been included in the attractive crest which is a suitable emblem of our school".
[edit] The Mascot
The school's original mascot, Johnny Rebel, was chosen to represent Eastwood's original rebellious spirit (many of the original teachers had left KCI to come to Eastwood). In 1999, it was decided that Johnny Rebel no longer personified what it meant to be a Rebel due to the fact that he was perceived to be a symbol of white bigotry (the Confederate Naval Jack was a prominent feature of his costume, and a version of the Naval Jack could be seen on the previous cafeteria mural, with Canadian Maple-Leaves replacing the stars). This led to a contest being held among the students and staff to design a new mascot. Eventually, it was decided that two lions (one male and one female, wearing a football jersey and a basketball jersey respectively) would be used to reflect the school's "Rebel Pride". In 2003, another contest was held for another overhaul of the mascot, with students and staff again submitting designs. Ultimately, a design by former Eastwood art teacher David Okum was selected. The "Rebel Lion" combines both old and new - a lion in an updated soldier's uniform. The name was chosen so that when the words were pushed together, the word "Rebellion" was formed.[citation needed]
[edit] Waterloo Region Integrated Arts Program
Eastwood is particularly noted for its specialized arts program, known as the "Integrated Arts Program". The Arts Program offers courses in Drama, Dance, Music: Instrumental, Strings, Vocal, and Visual arts. Talented students come to Eastwood from all over Waterloo Region and beyond just to be an Arts Program student. Keeping to its integrated nature, academics are incredibly important and necessary for all students. Success in academics as well as arts to attain a high-school diploma is mandatory.
[edit] The Specialist High Skills Major: Arts & Culture
This new program complements the already successful IAP. This program is newly developed and brings the technical side of the arts to the students. Programs in lighting, sound, stage managing, stage and set design, costume design and creation, are just a few of the offerings. Supported in part by members of Waterloo Region's Arts Community, this program will begin in the 2008-2009 school year.
[edit] Huron Heights controversy
In 2004, while the Waterloo Region District School Board was planning to build Huron Heights in Southwest Kitchener, the school was supposedly better suited for closure when at a meeting regarding the pending closure of Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (KCI) a delegate from KCI stated that the Eastwood students and community had not rallied around their school as had KCI and Southwood Secondary School, another school scheduled for closure.[citation needed] After a brief investigation by the District School Board, the decision was not to close any of the schools at all.
[edit] Renovations
In recent years the school has had a number of much needed renovations. A new library, dance studio, front steps, elevator, a re-vitalized woodworking shop, a (recently demolished) costume room, and a brand new sprinkler system completed in 2005 to bring the school up to fire code.[citation needed]
Beginning March 2007, a massive renovation began at the school, which includes new windows for the whole building, new ventilation system, new boiler system, and hiding the sprinkler pipes installed 2 years prior. Air conditioning is being installed, but will not be available to the whole school, only certain special parts will have it (such as computer labs) but the average classroom will not.
[edit] Special events
- Eastwood Collegiate celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006.
- They received a special visit from former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in 2006.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Karen Redman - Liberal Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre; currently serves as Chief Official Opposition Whip
- Alex Mustakas - Artistic Director of Drayton Entertaiment. Starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- David Chilton - Author of "The Wealthy Barber" and winner of Vanier Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Canadian under 40
- Marisa McIntyre - Starred in Toronto production of Mamma Mia!
- Tom Goertz - J'avert in Les Miserables
- Fitz "The Whip" Vanderpool - Championship Boxer, 1998 Boxer of the Year, and founder of "The Whip Boxing Academy"
- Dave Schneider - 105.3 KOOL FM radio personality
- Art Froese - Calgary Stampeders
- Harry Doering - Edmonton Eskimos
- Rob Ring - Video Artist & Artistic Director of CAFKA
- Glen Leach - Montreal Alouettes
- Frank Jagas - Calgary Stampeders
- Scott Stevens - retired NHL hockey player (Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils)
- Mike Stevens - retired NHL hockey player (Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, NY Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Mike Buie - Starred in 1999 Film Mystery Alaska
- Markus Koch - Washington Redskins
- Cindy Overland - Canadian Olympic Speed Skating Team
- Charity Brown - Recording Artist
- Joanna Perica - Singer/Songwriter
- Sabine Schleese - One of the Top 100 women business owners in Canada (2001-present) Schleese Saddlery Service
- Mike Boyko - All Canadian Soccer player of the Year
[edit] References
- (1996) Images of Progress 1946–1996: Modern Architecture in Waterloo Region. Twin City/Dwyer Printing Co, Kitchener, Ontario.
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