Baden Russell-Petigrow, Centretown News
Elgin Street Public School, one of Centretown’s oldest schools, is celebrating its 125th anniversary.Elgin Street Public School turns 125 this year and students and staff members at the school and surrounding community have partnered to organize a grand birthday celebration.
The school is a Centretown landmark and one of the oldest elementary schools in Ottawa. Serving students from junior kindergarten to Grade 6, the school has a vision to nurture and service the individuals in its community.
An archival photo with the school’s opening date of 1890 caught the eye of Diana Mills, a member of the organizing committee, who did the math and was shocked by the age of the institution. Mills, along with parents and teachers, approached principal Laura Frappier with the idea of an anniversary celebration.
The proposal was approved and an organizing committee of parent volunteers and teachers was created. Although the planning is still in its early stages, the date for the event is May 6 and members of the committee are eager to get the community involved.
“(We) hope to feature some families who have three generations that have attended the school and maybe some messages from prominent figures,” says Carmen Rupp-Eke, a member of the organizing committee.
One notable alumnus is former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson, who attended the school in the 1950s.
Although Clarkson now lives in Toronto and is currently abroad, other alumni of Elgin Street Public School still live and work in the community.
Some of them have even started up businesses. Stephen Beckta is an alumni and the owner of three restaurants in Ottawa; he recently moved his eponymous restaurant Beckta from Nepean Street to the historic Grant House at 150 Elgin, just up the street from the school.
“I always loved Elgin Street growing up, so for me it was a no-brainer to come home and be in this historic property,” he said.
He attended Elgin Street Public School in 1983 and expressed his enthusiasm over the possibility of a celebration in honour of the establishment.
“It was always a really wonderful environment to go to school in and learn in,” says Beckta.
Several years ago, the school was in danger of closure due to low registration. But this year, the numbers for the junior kindergarten class were so high that the school had to create another space to accommodate all the extra students.
“The school’s been around for 125 years,” says Rupp-Eke. “It’s obviously had its ups and downs, but now it’s in a real state of popularity.”
Current students will learn about those ups and down in the week leading up to the celebration, when they will study how schools functioned 125 years ago.
The week leading up to the anniversary is also the school’s Education Week, which typically features various photos and exhibits. This year, the exhibits will be focused on how different it was years ago at the elementary school.
“Through a collection of photos and artifacts, students and teachers will get an idea of what school life was like in 1890,” says Frappier.
During the 100th anniversary celebration in 1990, a time capsule containing a variety of mementos and documents was created.
“We’re trying to find someone who knows where the time capsule was buried so we can open it up and put something new in it and bury it again,” says Rupp-Eke.
Even without the time capsule, the event promises to be a fun one. Taking place early May the celebration will include a barbecue and cake, activities and messages from speakers.
The event aims to celebrate the longevity of the school, along with its commitment to its students and the community.