History & Archives | Premier Toronto Boys School

UCC has two centuries of experience educating next-generation leaders and bold innovators

UCC was founded in 1829 by Sir John Colborne, the lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, and was one of the first institutions offering secondary education in what later became Ontario. The school began with a vision to nurture young minds, drawing inspiration from the leading educational institutions of the time and serving as a preparatory school for King’s College (now the University of Toronto). The first 57 students were welcomed on January 4, 1830.

The College has a link to the British Royal Family through the late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip was UCC’s official visitor from 1955 until his passing in 2021, and he visited the campus in 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1993.

Our original campus was in Russell Square, in downtown Toronto, before we moved to our Deer Park campus in 1891. By 1900, UCC had become a fully independent institution. Our dedication to a well-rounded education led to the acquisition, in 1913, of property in Norval, Ont., which has since grown into the Norval Outdoor School, providing enriching programming in environmental study and stewardship.

The Deer Park main building was rebuilt in the late 1950s and early 1960s through a community-wide fundraising effort. UCC’s culture of philanthropy endures through fundraising campaigns to make the school the best it can be.

As we approach our monumental 200^th anniversary in 2029, there will be many opportunities to reflect on and celebrate our history fostering academic excellence and personal growth.