St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy

The logo as Jean Vanier C.S.S. from 1989 to 2020

Jean Vanier was attempted to merge with Cardinal Newman in June 2000 at the former home of Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute, but the plans were never materialized.

Long before the existence of Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School, the first Roman Catholic separate school, St. Maria Goretti Separate School opened its doors in September 1955 and St. Albert in September 1969 as the first schools within the parish of the same name. Between 1959 and 1962, David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute and Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute were then established although Midland was the sole secondary school in that area. However, by fall of 1973, Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School also opened its doors as the first Catholic high school in that same area as Midland.

The current location, Tabor Park Vocational School was designed by the architects Webb, Zerafa and Menkes, built in 1964 and established by the Scarborough Board of Education in September 1965 as a less academically challenged high school. Its programs were different from Bendale Vocational/Secondary with students integrated to mainstream schooling due to Tabor Park and Bendale were meant for streamed "vocational" high schools for people living near Midland and Thomson. The schools would later forged the model after Tabor Park by the openings of Maplewood and Sir William Osler in 1967 and 1975 respectively. In 1981, the enlarged library and gym storages were built.

By the time Tabor Park closed in 1986 due to low enrolment, Scarborough Centre for Alternative Studies, an adult high school began in this site. As a result of public funding of Catholic high schools, in May 1988, the SBE along with the six public boards to lease the Tabor Park property to the Metropolitan Separate School Board and was reopened and named after Jean Vanier, the Canadian philosopher and founder of L'Arche, to serve the rest of Scarborough. In that case, it was established to relieve overcrowding at Mary Ward, Francis Libermann and Senator O'Connor. By 1988, Scarborough had six anglophone Roman Catholic high schools.

Jean Vanier C.S.S. came to existence on September 5, 1989, within the St. Maria Goretti Parish catchment area as Central Scarborough's with 18 staff and 198 grade 9 students under the leadership of founding principal Michael Leroux, with the first students graduated Vanier in 1993. Construction and renovation began in 1990, and was completed in the spring of 1994, although the eastern portion building was erected and built with 18 classrooms in 1991 along with the front fascia and the school now accommodates close to 1,000 pupils. From the onset, the school was de-streamed in grade 9. The school was opened and blessed on November 13, 1994. In its conception, the school was originally to be named St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School, named after a Jesuit priest, Francis Xavier. But despite a turnout and the elementary school using the name, it was changed to Jean Vanier thereafter.

The school crest was designed by the first art teacher, Martine Girard-Agro in 1989. It features a calligraphy of a "J" and a "V" with a t-like cross.

Following the closure of Midland Collegiate in 2000, Vanier received the remaining students from Midland. To date, students living in the school's former catchment area have applied or attended Vanier since.

In February 2011, Jean Vanier C.S.S. received Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement award from EQAO.

Jean Vanier C.S.S. celebrated its 20th Anniversary in June 2010 since it opened in September 1989 with the Mass and Alumni social. The school celebrated its 25th in October 2014 in conjunction with L'Arche's 50th anniversary of its founding.

According to an internal report by L'Arche in February 2020, this report concluded that Jean Vanier had engaged in "manipulative and emotionally abusive" sexual relationships with six women in Trosly-Breuil, France, between 1970 and 2005.[3][4][5] A Change.org petition set up by a former student called for Jean Vanier's name to be removed and has lobbied the board to do so.[6]

At a school board meeting on July 16, 2020, the TCDSB recommended the name St. Joan of Arc Catholic Academy starting in the 2020–21 school year.[2][7][8] The school formally completed its renaming at the end of August 2020. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic affecting Toronto, the school reopened under its new name the following September with heavy restrictions in place.

The current emblem retains the cross from the previous Vanier insignia now sporting a fleur-de-lis with a sword standing in the centre.

Since its inception, Jean Vanier offers various courses in the comprehensive academic program for its students. Students can choose from a variety of courses at the academic, applied, and open levels. These, and other specialized courses, help prepare students for university, college, or the world of work after they have completed their studies at the school. Vanier currently offers math, English, science, Canadian History, geography, and religious studies. It also has special education programs.

Vanier, every year, competes in the University of Waterloo mathematics competition.

The word “Arts” is one that is immensely rich in meaning and its value is greatly appreciated in the school community. The creativity, style, expression, compassion and unique artistic approach is very obvious in 5 Arts Disciplines such as drama, instrumental/vocal music, visual arts, and photography. The drum line was introduced in 2012 by Michael Fanning, a new music teacher at the school.[11]

The combined art, music, technology show called Festival of Sight and Sound started by the arts department in the 1990s consisting of the talents of the music students as well as the work of the Art, Drama and Photography students. It is held in December and May each semester.

On March 6, 2014, Vanier was selected for the MusiCounts Band Aid Grant program costing at $600,000. The school received their $10,000 in equipment for the drum line program such as the marimba and a complete set of cymbals.[12][13] The guests were Juno Award-winning musicians Classified and David Myles who also performed their single Inner Ninja live in front of 300 students.[13]

The Jean Vanier Maverick has had a history of athletic excellence, which continues today. The school was well represented with the colours of red, black, silver and compete in the TDCAA locally and OFSAA provincially. So far, Vanier Mavericks compete in basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football, rugby, cross country, track and field, badminton, and indoor soccer. It notably previously competed in ice hockey and curling.

Jean Vanier offers technology courses such as CITI Motive (Automotive Class) - Dual High School / College Credits, Communications Technology, Partnership with Apple Inc., Yearbook (Desktop Publishing), Photography, among others.

In today's world, the students practice an active, faith life through service to the community. The education component is learned through religion classes, regular school practices and through special initiatives such as their affiliation with Development and Peace. Their support with the community through activities such as:

• Thanksgiving food drive for the Good Shepherd Refuge,
• Christmas Baskets for families through St. Vincent de Paul Society,
• Fair Trade Coffee Sales,
• The Best Buddies Program

The school has donated volunteer time, food and money to organizations such as: Development and Peace, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (Canada), Share Life – Covenant House, Inner City Angels, Raising the Roof, Help a Family Fundraiser (a school and orphanage in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic), St. John the Compassionate Mission, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), The Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Day Sales, The Louise Russo Fund, Right to Life, and L'Arche Daybreak (Richmond Hill, ON).

Over the years, Jean Vanier has publish several yearbooks in its 22-year life. Unlike all other high schools who receive yearbooks at the end of the year, the yearbooks are released the next year.

• 10th Anniversary (1999–2000)
• Tomorrow Came too Soon (2001–2002)
• "www.jeanvanier.com" (2002–2003)
• FlashBACK (2003–2004)
• 15th Anniversary (2004–2005)
• Timeless (2005–2006)
• Growing Together (2006–2007)
• Turning Points (2007–2008)
• Forever Young (2008–2009)
• 20th Anniversary: And ya Don't Stop! (2009–2010)
• Word (2010–2011)
• Connections (TTC-style motif) (2011–2012)
• Pieces of Us (Jigsaw puzzle motif) (2012–2013)
• TBD (2013–2014)
• TBD (2014–2015)

Vanier Vision is a newsletter that highlights the events happening in Jean Vanier throughout the school year. Published by the school principal and the communication technology teacher, it is distributed to students quarterly upon mailing the report cards in November, February, April, or July. The redesign took place starting in the Spring 2013 issue.

• Vanier Vibe (Student Podcast - Since taken off the air)
• Vanier Vibe: The Revival (Student newscast produced in Communication Technology and broadcast throughout the school - Started Spring 2018)
• Maverick Star (formerly Papercut)

As of July 2015, only four active principals of Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School remain employed with the TCDSB.

• Bianca Auciello (2008–2010) - now at St. Benedict Catholic School; formerly at Neil McNeil and previously a TCDSB Librarian resource head (2010–2012).
• Anne Louise Bannon (2013–present) - formerly a Drama teacher at Marshall McLuhan for 13 years
• Alda Bassani (2005–2007) - served as VP at Archbishop Romero (2007–2008); as Principal at Loretto Abbey (2008–2013); formerly a teacher at Notre Dame[14]
• Mary Curran (2000–2004) - served for the Durham Catholic District School Board at Archbishop Denis O'Connor in Ajax (2004 as VP and 2009–2010 as Principal) and St. Mary in Pickering as Principal (2005–2009)
• Ann Gotfryd (1999–2005) - served at Monsignor Fraser College until retirement in 2007
• Gianna Helling (2007–2010) - served as VP at Notre Dame; Currently at the elementary panel as Principal of Sts. Cosmas and Damian Catholic School (2010–2013) and St. Sebastian Catholic School (2013–present)
• Michael Monk (2010) - Acting VP; founding principal of Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton
• Reginald Ramlogan (2011–2016) - formerly a Religion teacher at Loretto College
• Raymond Sanborn (2005–2008) - served at Loretto Abbey (2008–2010), Notre Dame (2010–2012); now at Archbishop Romero (2012-present)
• Allan Schultz (2010–2013) - now at Archbishop Romero (2013–present); formerly a Canadian and World Studies teacher at Michael Power/St. Joseph
• Kathleen Wong (2010–2011) - now at Neil McNeil; formerly a teacher at St. Joseph Wellesley
• Michael Wyslobicky (2004–2005) - served as VP at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton (2005–2010)
• Zbigniew Reiter (2016–2017)