Trinity College School is pleased to invite family and friends of our Grade 12 graduating students to attend Speech Day 2024 which will take place on Friday, June 14th. On this webpage you will find the details you need to ensure an enjoyable day on campus. Please familiarize yourself with the information below, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Dunbar James, assistant to the head of Trinity College School, at 905-885-3217 ext. 1202 or jdunbarjames@tcs.on.ca.

Families of students in Grades 9-11 are welcome to attend the Senior School's annual prize giving and graduation ceremony on Speech Day. Please click here for information specific to families of non-graduating students.

Speech Day Schedule for Leaving Class Families & Friends

Please note:
*A separate schedule will be provided to graduating students, who will begin their day earlier.
**Reservation required – please read below for more details.

Reservation Required - Leaving Class Service

All family members and friends of graduates are welcome to attend most of the Speech Day activities, including the buffet brunch, the prize giving ceremony and the presentation of TCS diplomas to the leaving class, as well as the reception in The Lodge Garden.

Our special Leaving Class Service takes place in The Memorial Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Due to space constraints, each graduating student may have a maximum of two family members attend the Leaving Class Service.

Families must use an online reservation system to secure two seats of their choice for the Leaving Class Service in the chapel. 

Please note that the online seat reservation system is now closed. If you have yet to book seats, please contact Ms. Jennifer Dunbar James promptly at jdunbarjames@tcs.on.ca.

Unfortunately, those without a confirmed seat reservation will not be able to gain access to the chapel for the 10:00 a.m. service on Friday, June 14th. Please also note that the chapel doors will close promptly at 9:45 a.m. and all reserved seats that are unoccupied at that time will be released; thank you for planning to arrive at the chapel no later than 9:40 a.m. No food or drink permitted in the chapel; please put phones on silent mode.

Family members who are late arriving to the chapel or who were unable to secure a seat due to capacity limits will be invited to proceed to the Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre where the School will stream the Leaving Class Service for their exclusive viewing. Please note that theatre seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Questions About Speech Day?

Does my family need to RSVP or reserve a seat to attend? Only the Leaving Class Service is limited by building capacity, therefore seating is limited to a maximum of two guests per graduate and advance reservation of seats is required. All other Speech Day events are open to all family and friends with no reservation or RSVP required.

Why is the prize giving ceremony being held in the gym this year? Just like last year's event, the Speech Day prize giving ceremony will be held indoors this year in the Sue Burns Gymnasium within the Arnold Massey '55 Athletic Centre. With the growing unpredictability of weather patterns (as experienced over the past few years), holding this event indoors allows the School greater ability to provide a high quality event that suitably honours our graduates. In addition to better sound quality and temperature control, the indoor ceremony reduces accessibility challenges (thanks to ramps, washroom availability, accessible parking) that, in the past, made attending the event challenging for some members of our extended community.

What is the expected dress attire on Speech Day? Students will be in uniform #1 dress. For family and friends, there is no dress code, however, many families opt to wear “business casual” or “garden party” attire.

Are caps and gowns worn on Speech Day? While the Speech Day service does not traditionally include graduation caps and gowns, this year, the School is making a limited number of caps and gowns available for grads following the leaving class photo. Those interested will have the opportunity to take photos of their grad in cap and gown if they so choose.

How are diplomas presented to graduates? Diplomas will be handed out in a protective tube, unframed. Those interested in purchasing a TCS-crested frame (sized for the Grade 12 diploma) from the school store can click here for more information.

How do I order the full graduating class photo (which is taken immediately after the prize giving ceremony)? Grad parents will receive an email with more information on this in the summer.

Is there a formal graduation dinner for graduates and their families? The Class of 2024 Grad Parent Committee is looking forward to hosting the 2024 TCS Grad Dinner event for grads and their families. The event will take place on Saturday, June 15th at the Toronto Marriott at the CF Eaton Centre. For enquiries about this event, please contact Jennifer Petrolito at parents@tcs.on.ca.

Where can I access directions to campus? Where do I park on campus? Click here to view directions to the TCS campus. Click here to view and print the TCS campus map. TCS staff and signage will direct parents to available parking locations. Please note that illegal parking may be subject to ticketing by the local authorities.

I am travelling and plan to arrive prior to Speech Day…where can I find local accommodation? Some of our local hotels include:
Hampton Inn by Hilton – Port Hope
Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre
Comfort Inn – Port Hope
Comfort Inn – Cobourg
Hotel Carlyle & Restaurant – Port Hope
Breakers Motel on the Lake – Cobourg
The Waddell Hotel – Port Hope
Lakehurst Estate – Cobourg 

There are also a variety of Airbnb rentals available in Port Hope and Cobourg.

Note: If your family plans to make reservations to dine at a downtown Port Hope restaurant, please note that there is a major construction project currently underway on Walton Street (main street). While a portion of the main street is closed to vehicular traffic, all businesses, including restaurants, remain open and sidewalks are accessible to pedestrians. Parking is available off of the main street.

Who do I contact if I require further assistance? For questions about Speech Day, please contact Jennifer Dunbar James, assistant to the head of Trinity College School, at 905-885-3217 ext. 1202 or jdunbarjames@tcs.on.ca.