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Dear UCC Community,

Over the last seven years the College has been engaged in a campus master planning and facilities improvements process to ensure that our spaces remain exceptional places for boys to learn and grow. With five years remaining to our bicentennial, it is gratifying to see so much progress made on our campus master plan – including the creation of more than 10,000 square feet of new design labs, in addition to renovated classrooms across the Prep and Upper schools. This work has been informed and guided by valuable consultation with our community including students, faculty, parents and alumni. 

The next phase involves the addition of facilities to campus, and as of this week you may notice a sign posted on campus providing notice of an upcoming meeting to discuss the project with City planning staff over the next two weeks.   

To enhance the learning experience for our students, the College is proposing a two-story building on our Deer Park campus. This new facility will face Forest Hill Road and include an updated dining space to accommodate both Prep and Upper students, a new 25-metre swimming pool (to replace our existing 20-yard pool from 1938!), a double gymnasium suitable for our daily athletic program and annual competitions and events, as well as flexible spaces for teaching and learning, student project exhibitions and community celebrations. There will also be improved vehicular access to campus, with underground parking and designated pedestrian-only areas. With this additional building, we will have the opportunity in the next phase of the campus master plan to repurpose and enhance existing spaces within the Prep and Upper schools to continue to meet our evolving needs and opportunities in our third century.

These enhancements also extend our ability to offer more community partnerships similar to our 

Horizons programs and summer camps. 

It’s important to note that these plans are not intended to alter the size of the student body and are contingent on significant philanthropic support. Construction is still some time away, with 2027 being the earliest start date. As part of our consultations, our Forest Hill neighbours have been advised and updated on plans and have participated in community sessions at the school. 

We look forward to your continued input and support as we enhance all that we offer students, families and our school community. As part of our plans, families will have an opportunity to preview concepts and provide input on the project once we are further along in our planning and fundraising over the next two years. In the meantime, please be in touch with any questions.

Warm regards,

Sam McKinney

Principal

Invitation | Participate in refreshing Strategic Directions

Dear UCC Parents,

Strategic Directions: Towards 2029 expresses UCC’s vision, mission, values, goals and priorities. It was developed in 2016–17 through extensive community engagement and launched in 2018 to guide the College’s strategic areas of focus through to our 200th anniversary in 2029.

We are at the approximate midpoint and have made tremendous progress towards achieving the goals and priorities set out in Strategic Directions. Our efforts in support of our vision and mission are having a positive impact across the College, and we see our students living our values each day. 

We now have an opportunity to refresh our goals and priorities for the coming five years or so. Our focus is on refining and refocusing the priorities within the existing framework of Strategic Directions.

Community voices are very important, and as part of our consultation approach, we will hold a parent engagement session on Wednesday, November 6 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Hewitt Foundation Lounge at the Wilder '40 Arena.

If you would like to attend, RSVP so that we can plan seating and refreshments accordingly.

Thank you,

Sarah Fleming

Head, Prep School

Dr. Jeff Aitken

Head, Upper School

Gabriel Rose

Executive Director, Strategy

A-Day 3D Printer Raffle Winner

The winner of the 3D printer raffle at the A-Day draw is ticket number 018. If you have the winning ticket, please email pmiskew@ucc.on.ca to pick up the printer.

2025–26 Financial Assistance application

Financial Assistance applications for the 2025–26 academic year will once again be processed by Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS). This third-party service provides an independent assessment of the application and makes confidential recommendations directly to the College’s Financial Assistance Review Committee. Awards are made to eligible families on the basis of assessed need and may vary from year to year. You can complete the application online at Apple Financial Services. The application fee is $137.50.

Current families must apply or reapply by the Nov. 15 deadline so the College can ensure that all returning student applications are assessed and decisions made prior to a required re-registration decision early in 2025.

The College’s finance office has included current data in an at-a-glance table to help day families determine whether or not they may qualify, along with some frequently asked questions around the application process. There’s some very helpful guidance material on the FACS site as well.

Sincerely,

Colleen Papulkas

Uniform purchasing

DGN-Kilters will be conveniently stationed on campus with their mobile sales van, located just outside the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 for Prep uniforms and Wednesday, Nov.6 for Upper uniforms.

Upper and Prep families will have the opportunity to purchase winter dress uniforms and facilitate exchanges or returns. Prep colour house t-shirts and hoodies will also be available.

Patti Cawker-Chiang 

Blues Shop Manager

Save the date | Festive Marketplace is Dec. 13

Festive Marketplace is a wonderful UCC tradition that includes in-person shopping, an online Festive Auction, a bake sale, a snowball grab, and much more. This festive day will also feature student musical performances, student artwork and lots of other exciting events. For more information, please see this flyer.

We’re also looking for donations for the online Festive Auction and Snowball Grab. And we’d be thrilled to receive donations such as sports, concerts and event tickets, unique experiences, behind-the-scenes tours to interesting places, meet-and-greets with famous people, as well as gift cards and certificates. If you have items to donate, please complete this online form or, email festive@uccpo.ca. You can also send a monetary donation using e-transfer and we’ll buy auction items and gift cards on your behalf. Please send cash donations by e-transfer to treasurer@uccprepparents.ca (please write "Festive” in the note). 

All proceeds from Festive Marketplace and Festive Auction are used by our Parents' Organizations for special initiatives that provide direct and positive enhancements for UCC students. 

Light up the Avenue

You're invited to join us for a warm and festive gathering at pick-up on Friday, Nov. 1, as we celebrate our first-ever Light Up the Avenue! Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, chai, music and a special appearance by our beloved mascot, Ice.

In collaboration with the school, the PO and PPO have once again adorned our campus with festive LED lights. The lights will shine from the clock tower, down the Avenue, and around the bend to the Prep, brightening the way as we embrace the upcoming season. These lights celebrate cherished traditions in our community—Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa — and also enhance the safety of our campus during the winter months. They will remain up until March Break.

These festive lights are made possible through the partnership of the school and the PO and PPO, who are generously contributing funds raised from this year’s Festive Marketplace, taking place on Friday, Dec. 13.

We can’t wait to see you on Friday, Nov. 1 for this joyful afternoon of community spirit.

Event Details:

• Prep: 3 to 4 p.m. (Peacock Arch)

• Upper School: 3:40 to 4:10 p.m. (Front steps and back loop)

Bring your friends, family and festive cheer! 

Diwali — Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2024

Christmas — Dec. 25, 2024

Hanukkah — Evening of Dec. 25, 2024 to Jan. 2, 2025

Kwanzaa — Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 1, 2025

Nominate | Old Boy of Distinction and John D. Stevenson Awards 

Dear UCC Community,

The nomination period for two of the College’s highest honours closes on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and I hope you’ll consider nominating one or more extraordinary community members for these awards. Information regarding the nomination process and deadlines for the John D. Stevenson Award and Old Boy of Distinction Award are available on our website.

Thank you in advance for nominating your fellow UCC community members and helping the College recognize the profound impact of our volunteers and alumni!

Sincerely,

Chan Sethi ’03

President, UCC Association