Last week marked a big milestone for our new Systems Transformation Pathway, as our students completed the first of three mini engagements for Year 11, a social intervention designed to ground us all in an understanding of the course themes of pluralism, sustainability, and wellbeing.

To change a system, to intervene meaningfully, first requires care, compassion, curiosity, and a deep capacity to know the systems well. 

Armed with only a broad set of tools and an inspiring trip to the City of Toronto Archives, the students' curiosity led them to collaboratively tackle the challenge of creating their own walking tours from different and multiple lenses. 

Their tours of Toronto featured stories of intrigue, greed, tragedy and civic philanthropy, but most importantly, invited the community to build an appreciation and understanding of our shared context, grounding us in this moment. It asked us to see the nuances, to appreciate what has been, and to notice what is.

While we look for opportunities to re-run these student-led walking tours with our wider community, the students have created digital versions that we invite you to view at your leisure. 

Please click here to view the slides presented, and here to view a recording of the evening held on Oct. 30.

The Stewards have been working together to support Make-A-Wish Canada's Trees of Joy initiative this holiday season, raising funds to provide gifts and essential items for families in need across Toronto. Each “tree” represents $10,000 raised, and thanks to the generosity of the UCC community, we’ve already surpassed our first goal and are now just $2,000 away from funding a second tree! 

As Athletic Steward, I’m proud to be part of this collective effort alongside the other Stewards, and we’re so grateful for everyone’s contributions so far. Every donation—big or small—helps bring joy and warmth to families during the holidays. 

You can make a difference today—visit Make-A-Wish Canada to contribute and help us reach our second tree!

Service is one of the key values of our school. UCC seeks to inspire our students to become service-oriented leaders, who recognize their ability to positively influence change in their local and global communities, 

Each year, the UCC Upper School with the support of our Parent Organization, hosts a Volunteer Service Expo. The goal of the expo is to inform our students of the myriad ways that they can get involved and make a difference in their community. It's a great way for organizations to highlight their causes and available service opportunities.

The entire UCC community is welcome to join us at the Volunteer Service Expo on Monday, Nov. 17, from 1–2:30 p.m. in the Student Centre at the Upper School.

If you would like to participate as an exhibitor, please let John Sweetman know at your earliest convenience.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, a group of students from the College’s Civics and Global Citizenship course travelled down Avenue Road to visit the Legislative Assembly. 

The group was greeted by Minister Stephen Lecce (Minister of Energy and Mining and formerly Ontario's youngest Minister of Education), who expressed the importance of building a network, active civic engagement and hard ethical work in the pursuit of greatness. 

A coincidental example of Hon. Stephen Lecce’s importance of building a diligent network was as the group was about to begin our history tour of the building, we ran into a Year 8 Mowbray’s student serving as a Page. A position that a member of our group had also held while in Year 8. 

In another chance encounter during our hands-on experiential learning activities, one of the teachers was tapped on the shoulder by an Old Boy from the Class of 2020. He took some time to share a meaningful message with the group about how following the herd can be safe, but staying true to who you are is what keeps things most meaningful. He went on to tell us about how his time as photographer of the College Times led him to working as the official photographer for the Solicitor General of Ontario, allowing him to travel across parts of Canada. He mentioned how his co-curricular community at the College grounded him in moments he felt lost. His current position in the Legislature was a chance he took on himself, with the skills he refined while at UCC. 

The group then met MPP Stephanie Smyth, who represents the College’s riding. MPP Smythe thanked the students for representing her riding and for engaging in hands-on learning.

Two final treasures awaited the group before returning to the College: the former space for the on-location barber (as politicians need to be camera-ready) and a group lunch in Queen’s Park. 

The Footprints 4 Hope Shoe Drive has officially started and will run until Friday, Nov. 14.

Please check your closets today for any shoes that are too small, too large, or simply unused. We gladly accept all sizes and types of shoes. Simply bring them to the collection containers in the Bernick Family Foyer and change lives forever.

These shoes will be going to people in need around the world and will benefit the lives of many. I have added the background information on this initiative below with the full details.

Check your closets and change lives forever!!!

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Hashim Israr 

Class of 2028, Seaton’s

Background on this initiative

I have partnered with Soles4Souls, a respected non-profit organization, to collect gently worn and used shoes for people struggling financially in developing nations. Without shoes, these individuals are at risk of infections and diseases. Furthermore, the collected shoes are also given to women entrepreneurs who can sell them to start their own small businesses, offering them a sustainable path out of poverty.  

This is a powerful cause, and your help can truly change lives. One pair of your shoes can provide hope for someone else. Your shoes will be sent to Soles4Souls warehouse where they will be organized, and later sent off to developing nations across the world to people in need.

To learn more about the non-profit organization, please visit Soles4Souls Canada and watch this video, Turning shoes into opportunity.

Peru

Full details and registration link here.

Mexico

Full details and registration link here.

The registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 7 for both trips.
Questions? Please email John Sweetman. 

Dear Families, 

We are thrilled to announce that UCC, in collaboration with G/Hardy Tours, is once again offering a meaningful and exciting cycling tour to the World War I Battlefields of France and Belgium! The trip is open to all Year 9 to 11 students, with priority given to students of history and older boys, and will take place from June 12-20, 2026. We've crafted an itinerary that covers the poignant history and hallowed grounds of WWI on a unique cycling tour, from the Canadian memorials of Vimy Ridge, to serene cemeteries and moving memorials. 

The trip requires considerable physical effort and fitness as we will be riding 50 km per day through the hilly country of Belgium and France. 

To provide more insight into this opportunity, G/Hardy Tours has prepared a detailed itinerary outlining the highlights, tour price, and registration instructions.  Here's the e-brochure: World War I Battlefields

Tour Price: $5,925.00 per person based on 16 students and three accompanying chaperones and a dedicated guide. 

Here is the link to register: UCC Battlefields Cycling Trip Registration

To register for this trip, please click on the link above. In the unlikely event that the trip does not fill, we will cancel your registration and refund your deposit. If you are renewing your passport, please enter your current details exactly as they appear and inform us once the renewal is finalized. 

Payment schedule:

● Non-refundable deposit due upon trip registration: $500.00

● *Optional travel Insurance must be purchased upon trip confirmation

● Second payment due Jan. 13, 2026: $2,500.00

● Remaining balance due March 13, 2026

Parent info session

Parent information sessions will be announced at a later date. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Marc McGuire.

We hope you can join us on this unforgettable trip! 

Sincerely,
The teams at UCC and G/Hardy Tours

Come stock up on uniform pieces before winter with TUBS 50% off everything sale!

When: Monday, Nov. 3 to Friday, Nov. 14

Open Monday to Friday (excluding school holidays) during the following hours:

• 8 - 9 a.m. (except Wednesdays)

• 12 - 1:15 p.m.

• 3 - 4 p.m. (except Fridays)

TUBS  is located in the lower level of the Upper School, next to the Lower Dining Hall.

Winter dress is just around the corner on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Year 12 families are invited to stop by the Blues Shop to purchase uniform-approved Leaving Class of 2026 quarter zips and ties.

Mark your calendars for this year’s Festive Marketplace Friday, Dec. 12. 

A wonderful UCC tradition that includes in-person shopping, an online Festive Auction, a bake sale, a snowball grab, student musical performances and more. Grab lunch with a friend. Meet for a coffee and a freshly baked treat. Enjoy exclusive shopping at one of our local curated vendors. 

Check out our Festive website for everything Festive!

Our annual Festive Auction goes live on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m., and closes on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. with new items being added daily.  

Donations are welcome

Our Festive Auction Committee is currently curating amazing items for the auction.

We’re looking for items and experiences to add into our annual auction. Things like chalet and cottage weekends, trips and excursions, sailboat charters, ski passes, golf rounds, tickets to sporting events, opportunities to meet celebrities, movie passes, airline tickets, fun or fine dining, behind-the-scenes chef dinners, a visit to a film set, etc. If you have something you’d like to add to our auction, we’d love to hear from you.

Simply complete this form or send us an email with item details.

If you’d like to donate, but aren’t sure of an item, you can donate money and we’ll curate an auction item on your behalf. Please send cash donations by e-transfer to treasurer@uccpo.ca (please write “auction donation” in the note). 

New this year: Donate single items for Festive Auction gift bundles

The Festive Auction Team is now collecting new, single items to bundle into themed gift baskets. 

We welcome NEW toys, housewares, sports items, accessories, wine and gift cards. We’ll take care of bundling and creating themed baskets to add into our online auction, and any items we cannot use in our auction bundles will be donated to charity.

Please drop your items at the Upper School Reception, clearly labeled “For Festive Auction.”

With your help, we can make this year’s Festive Auction a huge success.