Arthur Voaden Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Arthur Voaden Secondary School (often abbreviated as AVSS) is a high school in St. Thomas
, Ontario
, Canada
. Voaden is part of the Thames Valley District School Board
.
Originally named as simply Arthur Voaden School, it was one of the first vocational school
s in Ontario. It was constructed in a time where secondary school
was considered a privilege, and was meant for those entering university or white-collar jobs. Arthur Voaden, M. D.
, a native of nearby Talbotville, was a man that wanted to give educational opportunities to all. Initiating this project to build AVS as one of few “down-graded” vocational schools around did create some friction, with debate over the Flora Street site, and the fears of costs. However after a year of construction, the doors were opened in September 1926. It did struggle in its early years, especially due to the Great Depression
, when employment was scarce, and even trained and experienced workers had difficulty. It did slowly gain acceptance, and proved invaluable during World War II
. The war made for a man power shortage to a point where even second and third year students were plucked from the school to fill the void. The school created special twelve week courses to train adults for war work, and war emergency classes were made available year round.
Dr. Voaden was principal of the school from its opening until he died in 1931. His remains were laid in state at the school.
, it is still very trade-oriented. It has fully operational foods services, automotive, and manufacturing departments, and cooperative education
programs with local business, including one with the Canadian Forces
reserve force, 31 Combat Engineer Regiment. It also offers the newly created Ontario Technical Certificate, where students can focus on trade-related courses, and be exempt from some academic courses that are compulsorary under the OSSD.
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Voaden is part of the Thames Valley District School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
.
History
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
s in Ontario. It was constructed in a time where secondary school
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
was considered a privilege, and was meant for those entering university or white-collar jobs. Arthur Voaden, M. D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, a native of nearby Talbotville, was a man that wanted to give educational opportunities to all. Initiating this project to build AVS as one of few “down-graded” vocational schools around did create some friction, with debate over the Flora Street site, and the fears of costs. However after a year of construction, the doors were opened in September 1926. It did struggle in its early years, especially due to the Great Depression
Great Depression in Canada
Canada was hit hard by the Great Depression. Between 1929 and 1939, the gross national product dropped 40% . Unemployment reached 27% at the depth of the Depression in 1933...
, when employment was scarce, and even trained and experienced workers had difficulty. It did slowly gain acceptance, and proved invaluable during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The war made for a man power shortage to a point where even second and third year students were plucked from the school to fill the void. The school created special twelve week courses to train adults for war work, and war emergency classes were made available year round.
Dr. Voaden was principal of the school from its opening until he died in 1931. His remains were laid in state at the school.
Present day
Although it is now a secondary school that offers an Ontario Secondary School DiplomaOntario Academic Credit
The Ontario Academic Credit or OAC was part of the curriculum codified by the Ontario Ministry of Education in Ontario Schools: Intermediate and Senior and its revisions. In common parlance, the term is used to describe the fifth high school year that used to exist in the province of...
, it is still very trade-oriented. It has fully operational foods services, automotive, and manufacturing departments, and cooperative education
Cooperative education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
programs with local business, including one with the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
reserve force, 31 Combat Engineer Regiment. It also offers the newly created Ontario Technical Certificate, where students can focus on trade-related courses, and be exempt from some academic courses that are compulsorary under the OSSD.
Notable alumni
- Dan CloutierDan CloutierDan Cloutier is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. In his 10-year National Hockey League career, Cloutier played with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings, spending the majority of his career in Vancouver...
- attended Voaden for the 1991-1992 school year while playing for the Jr BWestern Junior B Hockey LeagueThe Western Ontario Hockey League was a junior ice hockey league in Ontario, Canada, sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969 until 2007. As of 2007, the league has become a division of the newly formed Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
St. Thomas StarsSt. Thomas StarsThe St. Thomas Stars are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
as a 15-year old. He was drafted by the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds of the OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
in 1992, and then by the New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
26th overall in 19941994 NHL Entry DraftThe 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
, and has played for the Rangers, Tampa Bay LightningTampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, and Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
- Stephen OuimetteStephen OuimetteStephen Ouimette is a Canadian actor and director, born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, and a graduate of the University of Windsor...
- attended Voaden from 1968-1972