Richmond Hill High School (Ontario)

Public high school in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Richmond Hill High School

Address

201 Yorkland Street

Richmond Hill

Ontario

L4S 1A2

Canada

Coordinates| 43°54′11″N 79°26′21″W﻿ / ﻿43.90306°N 79.43917°W﻿ / 43.90306; -79.43917
Information
School type| Public High school
Motto| Sapere Aude
(Latin, variously translated as: 'Dare to Learn', 'Dare to Know', 'Dare to be Wise', 'Have the courage to think for yourself' or 'Have courage to use your own reason')
Founded| 1851; 172 years ago (1851)
School board| York Region District School Board
Superintendent| Rita Russo
Area trustee| Simon Cui
Principal| Deborah Linkewich
Grades| 9-12
Language| English
Colour(s)| Forest Green  & White
Mascot| Raider
Team name| Richmond Hill Raiders
Newspaper| Spyglass
Website| www.richmondhill.hs.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Last updated: February 2019

Richmond Hill High School is a secondary school located in the City of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It is the second oldest high school in York Region Municipality (and behind Newmarket High School c. 1843), being established in the mid-19th century. The school is a host to several regional special education programs, including an Advanced Placement Program, Alternative Education Program, Cooperative Education Program, Developmentally-Delayed Program, and an Orthopedic Program. The school has a small gifted program along with all other secondary schools in York Region.[citation needed]

In the 2016-2017 Fraser Institute rankings, Richmond Hill ranked 19th in the province of Ontario and 7th in York Region, with an overall score of 8.7/10.[2]

## History[edit]

Richmond Hill High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in the Greater Toronto Area, founded on December 2, 1851. It has expanded and changed locations on several occasions including in 1853, 1872, 1897, 1924, 1950, and 2000, having had been located on Yonge St. and Wright St. in 'downtown' Richmond Hill before moving to its present location at 201 Yorkland Street in September 2000.[citation needed]

In 1948–9, the Richmond Hill High School Literary Society erected a metal plaque as a list of honour memorial dedicated to the former students of the school who died in service during the First and Second World Wars. The plaque is now mounted on the east wall between the outer and inner doors of the main entrance of the school.[3]

In 2005, former president of South Africa and 1993 Nobel Peace Prize Winner F.W De Klerk visited the school, spoke to students and staff about his part in the end of the apartheid system, and answered students' questions during an hour-long session.[4]

## Building & Site[edit]

Panorama of the school's front entrance.

The current school building on Yorkland Street is a two-story structure measuring 180,174 square feet (16,738.7 m2), which was completed and opened in 2000. It houses two gymnasiums, a fitness and weight training room, a cafetorium including a stage, a library, a communications technology room including a green and blue screen, vocal and instrumental/band music rooms, two visual art studio classroom/workspaces and six 'pods' with a central computer lab surrounded by four conventional classrooms, a science lab classroom and two teaching staff workrooms/offices.

The original Yorkland Street building was built to accommodate a student population of 1400 students[citation needed], but due to continued residential building in the school's catchment area and the strength of the school's academic reputation, the school has consistently enrolled 1600+ students since shortly after its opening. This has necessitated the use of portables as classrooms, with the number of portables growing to nine as of September 2016.

The two older buildings still survive, with the old 1851 building now a coffee shop on Yonge Street, and the 1950 building continuing to operate as the French secondary school "École secondaire Norval-Morrisseau."

### 'Books' by E.B. Cox[edit]

'Books' seen near the front entrance of the school.

Situated in front of the main entrance of the present Yorkland Street building, in the grass median between the incoming and outbound driveways, is a sculpture entitled "Books" created by renowned and deceased Canadian sculptor E.B. Cox.

In 1967, the staff and students of the school raised $4,000 (equivalent to over $28,000 in 2017) to commission the piece as a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. It was originally installed at the Wright Street location upon its completion in 1968, and was moved to Yorkland Street when the school switched locations.

The sculpture is meant to represent a column of books towering up to the sky, representing the importance of books as a tool of learning.[5]

## Controversy[edit]

### Timothy 'Gymteacher1' Baulk Scandal[edit]

On September 21, 2023, Timothy Baulk, the head of physical and health education at Richmond Hill High School department at Richmond Hill High School[6] was arrested in his Whitby home on charges of luring a person under the age of 16 by means of telecommunication and making sexually explicit material available to said underage person. His court date was set to October 19, 2023, and he was released on bail.[7]

The details of his court trial are unknown, but it is presumed that he is released on bail and must adhere to the following restrictions:

* "Do not attend public park or public swimming area where persons under the age of 16 years are present or can reasonably be expected to be present, or a day care centre, school ground, playground or community centre."
* "Do not seek, obtain or continue any employment, whether or not the employment is remunerated, or becoming or being a volunteer in a capacity, that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16 years."
* "Do not possess or use any computers or any other device that has access to the internet or other digital network."

As of December 18, 2023, Baulk has not returned to his job at Richmond Hill High School. It is safe to assume that he is no longer employed at the school.[8]

According to the Ontario College of Teachers website, his teaching qualifications are in "Good Standing" as of December 16th, 2023.[9]

He allegedly used the social media handles “Gymteacher” and “Gymteacher1” to communicate with minors online.[7]

#### Relevance to school[edit]

Form detailing RHHS' students opinion on school safety after Baulk was arrested.

On December 15, 2023, an anonymous Google Form was created by a member of the student body to ask other students if they felt safe in the RHHS school environment after the arrest of Baulk. A whopping 69.8% of the 96 students who responded stated that they did not feel safe in the school environment after the events.

This information has spread as far as RHHS alumni. As seen in this TikTok video, the RHHS alumni community has felt the effects of this scandal.

A majority of the students who completed the above form have gone on record stating that they feel that the staff at RHHS (and by extension the YRDSB) haven't properly addressed this issue, instead opting to "Brush it under the rug". Recently, RHHS students have been worried for their safety despite the "firing" of Baulk as there may be speculation that Baulk has committed multiple acts of harassment and even adultery to underage minors during his time at the school.

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Josh Binstock, Olympic volleyball player
* Evan Fong, YouTube gaming celebrity and EDM producer also known as VanossGaming
* Michelle Li, Canadian Olympic badminton player
* Farley Mowat, World War II veteran, conservationist and author[10]
* Mag Ruffman, comedian, actress and television host
* Wendy Shon (Seung-Wan ‘Wendy’ Shon), singer and member of South Korean K-pop girl group Red Velvet[11]
* R. H. Thomson, actor and filmmaker
* Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario[12]
* Norman J. Wildberger, Mathematics Professor at UNSW and well-known online mathematics communicator
* Brian Yang, Canadian Olympic badminton player
* Samantha Win Tjhia, Olympic Wushu Fighter, stunt double and actress

## See also[edit]

* List of high schools in Ontario
* York Region District School Board
* Richmond Hill, Ontario
* Advanced Placement
* History Of Richmond Hill, Ontario

## References[edit]

1. ^ "York Region District School Board - Monthly Enrolment Report" (PDF). York Region District School Board. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
2. ^ The Fraser Institute: Report Card on Richmond Hill High School
3. ^ http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=2594 War memorial plaque
4. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (16 November 2005). "Students rapt at de Klerk talk". Toronto Star. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
5. ^ Information on the sculpture is sourced from a combination of oral history from the daughter of the artist, and from RHHS staff contemporary to the time at which the sculpture was acquired
6. ^ "Timothy Baulk - Linkedin".
7. ^ a b "Ontario man charged in online child-luring investigation". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
8. ^ Multiple student and staff accounts.
9. ^ "| Ontario College of Teachers". apps.oct.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
10. ^ "Farley Mowat's Remarkable Teacher". Professionally Speaking. Ontario College of Teachers. June 1998. Archived from the original on 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2007-11-22. "...who taught English to Mowat from 1937 to 1940 at Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill."
11. ^ Westwood, Rosemary (February 26, 2015). "Video: GTA stages a 'breeding ground' for K-Pop talent". Metro. Metro International. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
12. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (2007-01-13). "From student council to head of the class". thestar.com. Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-11-22. "Kathleen Wynne was a track star and student council secretary when she graduated from Richmond Hill High School in 1971."

## External links[edit]

* Richmond Hill High School Website

* v
* t
* e

Richmond Hill, Ontario

Municipality|

* Richmond Hill
* Oak Ridges
* Wilcox Lake

Government|

* Elections
* ‎Mayors
* Richmond Hill City Council

* Electoral districts: Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill (federal, provincial), Richmond Hill (federal, provincial)

Education|

* Public:
* Alexander Mackenzie High School
* Bayview Secondary School
* Langstaff Secondary School
* Richmond Green Secondary School
* Richmond Hill High School
* Catholic: Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy
* St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
* Private: Academy for Gifted Children
* Holy Trinity School

Culture|

* History
* People
* Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
* Richmond Hill Heritage Centre

Business and services|

* David Dunlap Observatory
* Hillcrest Mall
* Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital
* Parks
* Richmond Hill Public Library

Sport|

* Richmond Green
* Richmond Hill Curling Club
* Richmond Hill Rams

Transportation|

* Richmond Hill Transit
* Richmond Hill line
* Bloomington GO Station
* Gormley GO Station
* Richmond Hill GO Station
* Langstaff GO Station
* Richmond Hill Centre Terminal
* Ontario Highway 404
* Yonge Street

* Category
* People

* v
* t
* e

Secondary schools in the Regional Municipality of York

Anglophone public

Secular
York Region District School Board|

* Alexander Mackenzie
* Aurora
* Bayview
* Bill Crothers
* Bill Hogarth
* Bur Oak
* Dr. G.W. Williams
* Dr. John M. Denison
* Emily Carr
* Hodan Nalayeh
* Huron Heights
* Keswick
* King City
* Langstaff
* Maple
* Markham District
* Markville
* Middlefield
* Milliken Mills
* Newmarket
* Pierre Elliott Trudeau
* Richmond Green
* Richmond Hill
* Sir William Mulock
* Stephen Lewis
* Stouffville District
* Sutton District
* Thornhill
* Thornlea
* Tommy Douglas
* Unionville
* Westmount
* Woodbridge

Separate
York Catholic District School Board|

* Cardinal Carter
* Father Bressani
* Father Michael McGivney
* Holy Cross
* Our Lady of the Lake
* Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy
* Sacred Heart
* St. Augustine
* St. Brother André
* St. Elizabeth
* St. Jean de Brebeuf
* St. Joan of Arc
* St. Luke
* St. Maximillian Kolbe
* St. Robert
* St. Theresa of Lisieux

Francophone public

Secular
Conseil scolaire Viamonde|

* Norval-Morrisseau

Separate
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir|

* Pape-François
* Renaissance

Independent

Private|

* Academy for Gifted Children
* Discovery Academy
* St. Andrew's College
* Toronto Montessori Schools

Religious|

* Holy Trinity School
* Peoples Christian Academy
* Villanova College
* Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Toronto

Italics indicates an institution that operates as a combined school, providing both elementary and secondary levels of schooling.
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