History

St Jean de Brebeuf

The name Brebeuf was chosen for the new Toronto Catholic High School that opened its doors to the first students in 1963 for three reasons.  One of Ontario’s most illustrious and heroic pioneers was Jean de Brebeuf, who first came to Canada in 1625, only 17 years after the founding of this country by Champlain’s French colonists in 1608.  Brebeuf journeyed to the area around present-day Midland, Ontario, and introduced Christian values to the Huron Wendat nation.

Another compelling reason for selecting the name Brebeuf was that Jean de Brebeuf was a French Jesuit priest and the priests who founded Brebeuf College School in 1963 were the Jesuits of the Upper Canadian Province.  Brebeuf College School’s first principal was Father Robert Meagher, S.J., a native of Montreal and a follower of the Loyola tradition in that city.  Brebeuf’s first staff consisted of eight Jesuit priests, one Jesuit brother, and 6 laymen.

Finally, the name Brebeuf was chosen to provide each student and staff member with a person to emulate in his or her daily life. Jean de Brebeuf was a giant among men, not only physically with his six-foot plus posture, but also academically with his exceptional linguistic skills, and more so spiritually with his dedication, zeal and courage.  In 1649 Brebeuf was martyred after serving for sixteen years among the Wendat.

Jean de Brebeuf died at the age of 56 years for the faith he hoped to implant in the hearts, minds, and souls of his Wendat brothers.  In 1956 his grave was discovered by Father Denis Hegarty, S.J. at the present site of Ste. Marie-among-the-Hurons, near Midland, and a simple, hand etched lead plaque told the story of his heroic life:

P. Jean de Brebeuf     Brûlé par les Iroquois          Le 17 de Mars, 1649