Fisher Park High School
| Fisher Park High School | |
|---|---|
.png) |
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| Location | |
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Ottawa, Ontario Canada |
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| Information | |
| Motto | "Esto Dignus", ("Be Worthy",) |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Closed | 1987 |
| School board | Ottawa Carleton District School Board |
| Grades | 9-13 |
| Enrollment | 490 (founding)- 1,900 (peak)- 500 (closure) |
| Language | English, French |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colour(s) | Red and White |
| Communities served | River Ward, with College Ward and Knoxdale-Merivale Ward; Island Park, Bel-Air Park and Bel-Air Heights, Copeland Park and Carlington neighbourhoods |
| Feeder schools | J. 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 kilometer of Island Park Drive, 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.
The story of Fisher Park began in 1945 when Ottawa had only 4 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.
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 center). 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.
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