SAUNDERS SECONDARY SCHOOL

'Saunders Secondary School' is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb of London, Ontario, Canada. The school's construction was completed in 1972. Saunders Secondary School is named after William Saunders and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture and horticulture. Grades offered are 9–12. Saunders' school colours are red and gold and its mascot is a sabre-tooth tiger. Saunders Secondary School is the largest high school in the Thames Valley District School Board, with over 2000 students and 120 teachers.

Contents

History

Notable alumni and staff

External links

History

Construction of Saunders was completed in 1972. The school cost more than $8 million to build and the location caused many heated debates. The people of Byron, Ontario wanted a school in that area so that their children would not have to be bussed to the Westmount area for school. When the proposed site for the multi-million dollar school was but a mere mile away from an existing school to which Westmount students were then attending, the Byron Area Secondary School Association was not pleased. In spite of this, in January 1969, the board approved the Westmount location for the school.
On April 18 1994, arsonists set fire to Saunders forcing the evacuation and temporary closure of the school [1], as well as an extensive rebuilding of the rear part of the building. London Police subsequently charged three students with setting the blaze.
On October 27 2006, a second, albeit minor, fire occurred in the school. This fire was set in an elevator by a student. The student lit a dried floral display. The fire moved to the first floor in the elevator where it was quickly extinguished by the custodial staff. Students and staff rapidly evacuated the school. No one was harmed and the perpetrator was quickly apprehended by the school administration and the police.

Notable alumni and staff

Notable alumni and staff include:

★ Jesse Davidson, fundraiser and poster boy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

★ Sonja Gustafson, Opera Singer

★ Rick Green, NHL Player

★ David Hughes, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada

★ Alternative band Kittie (all original founding members)

★ Adam Kreek, Canadian athlete and Olympian

★ Irene Mathyssen, federal Member of Parliament and former Ontario Cabinet Minister was an English teacher at Saunders

★ Rick Nash, NHL Player

★ Corey Perry, NHL Player, 2007 Stanley Cup Champion w/ Anaheim Ducks

★ Deighton "Willy" Thomas, former CFL Player, actor, teaches at Saunders.

★ Mason Williams Webcomic artist/writer

External links

★ Saunders Secondary School

★ Thames Valley District School Board

★ Class of 1982 Reunion