On May 1, 2023, TCS officially turned 158 years old. The School celebrated its birthday – or Founder’s Day – with a series of fun events including a dodgeball tournament, artistic endeavours, a BBQ lunch on the terraces and, of course, birthday cake.

On the annual anniversary of its inception, I always enjoy looking back at a collection of interesting historical facts related to Trinity College School’s early years:

• The School’s founder, The Revd. W.A. Johnson, was born in Bombay, India
• Trinity College School was founded as an all-boys school in Weston, Ontario in 1865 and relocated to Port Hope in 1868
• TCS facilities would consist of a two-storey wooden house to provide accommodation for its 30 students “on the hill” in its new location; about 1 km away, in town, there was a brick building where classes were held
• The Revd. W.A. Johnson never moved to Port Hope, opting to stay at his parish in Weston; The Rev. C.H. Badgley would become the School’s first head
• In 1868, TCS registered a cow at $40 as one of its assets
• The original annual boarding fee was $200/year
• The start of a school day was 6:30 a.m.; washing, prayers and study were mandatory before the start of classes
• It was also compulsory in morning study that students learn both poetry and verses in English, Latin or Greek languages
• The School first burned down on February 11, 1895; it burned down a second time in March 1928. Both times, with the help of its extended community, it rebuilt stronger than before.

I believe that we can all generate motivation from the history of the School on the Hill. At the very least, we can be grateful for the campus, facilities, programs, students and staff that we have today.

Of course, we live in challenging times these days. But, as a school community, those who carried the TCS torch before us have passed it on, having left the School in better shape than when it started.

Happy birthday, TCS.