This morning I gathered with our Upper School students, faculty and staff at assembly to talk about something that weighs on all of us: the deeply disturbing news from Cornell University. This vital conversation is happening across schools and universities, including in our own student publication Convergence.

At UCC, we talk about being your best self. I shared with students that this comes down to two commitments of character. First, it means understanding the boundaries of appropriate behaviour, boundaries built on respect, integrity, empathy and care. Second, being your best self means having the courage never to stand by when those boundaries are crossed. Silence is safe, but it is insidious. It is a risk to the women in our lives, and it is complicit in their harm.

I admire the way our students create belonging in this school, and I believe they live our "You'll Never Walk Alone" motto. My hope is that this commitment to one another does not get in the way of doing the right thing. I know that stepping forward is incredibly difficult. It can risk social standing, and it can feel isolating. But doing nothing is far more harmful. I believe the courage to intervene can be a defining measure of strength and masculinity.

We’ll continue planning thoughtful ways to engage in this important conversation, including in age-appropriate ways with Prep students. And I encourage families to talk about it at home — your support matters deeply and I’m grateful for the care in our community that surrounds our students. 

Sincerely,

Sam McKinney
Principal

Upper Canada College will be hosting the Toronto Public Health (TPH) Year 7 vaccination clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Weston Hall at the Prep School. It will also offer catch-up opportunities for Year 8 students who missed a vaccination.

Vaccinations that will be made available at the clinic for year 7 and 8s:

● Meningococcal* — to prevent meningitis 

● Human papillomavirus — to prevent cancers 

● Hepatitis B — to prevent liver cancer 

Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), immunization against designated diseases—including meningococcal disease—is required by law for all school-attending children, unless a valid exemption is provided. Please ensure your child's records are up to date, as local public health units can enforce a school suspension of up to 20 school days if requirements are not met.

Year 7: Consent forms were recently distributed in class and should have already been returned to your child's teacher. If you have not yet returned the form, we kindly ask that you complete and submit it as soon as possible. 

Year 8: If your child is attending a catch-up session, you do not need to fill out a new consent form. Otherwise, you may review and submit a new consent form if you would like your child to receive a vaccine they did not sign up for in Year 7.

Year 9 to 12: This is a reminder that they may be eligible to receive routine vaccines free of charge through a Toronto Public Health (TPH) community clinic. This applies to any student in Year 7 or higher who has missed a vaccine or needs to complete an unfinished series.

The available vaccines include:

• Meningococcal: Protects against meningitis

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Protects against various cancers

• Hepatitis B: Protects against liver cancer

To book an appointment, please review the parent package and consent form, then schedule your visit online using the TPH Appointment Booking System. If you have any questions, you can consult your family doctor or call Toronto Public Health directly at 416-338-7600.

Sincerely,

UCC Health Centre

Dear UCC Community,

The nomination period for two of the College’s highest honours closes on Friday, Oct. 30 at midnight, and I hope you’ll consider nominating one or more extraordinary community members for these awards. 

Please see information regarding the nomination process and deadlines for the Old Boy of Distinction Award and John D. Stevenson Award. More information about these community awards and how to nominate is available here.

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

Sincerely,

Chanakya Sethi ’03
President, UCC Association

Financial assistance applications for the 2027-2028 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 www.applefinancialservices.ca. The application fee is $137.50.

Current families must apply or reapply by the November 13th deadline so the College can ensure that all returning student applications are assessed and decisions are made before re-registration decisions are required early in 2027. Failure to include important data, documents or incomplete applications may jeopardize the assessment of your application.

An informative “Frequently Asked Questions” section regarding the application process is available on the Financial Assistance page of the UCC website. Helpful guidance material is also available on the FACS site.

Sincerely,
Colleen Papulkas
Manager, Finance