Our History

TDChristian Celebrates 60 years

2022

TDChristian enters its 60th year.  Celebrates include a special concert featuring music directors from TDChristian’s past and present, an alumni hockey game, and an evening celebration of God’s goodness.

2021
The Fire Hall Thrift Store opens for online sales. The retail experience increases as COVID pandemic restrictions lessen.

2020
Project 20/20 is completed. The building is 20% larger. It includes a stunning front entrance and foyer, a Learning Commons, a Presentation Centre, a lecture-sized classroom, and basement facilities storage.

2019
Phase 2 of Project 20/20 begins.

2018
The Phase 1 Project 20/20 begins. The parking lot and entrance into the school are reworked for better safety and traffic flow. More solar panels are also added to the school roof. A time capsule is placed in locker 43 which is to be opened in 2043, year 80 of the school.

2017
The fire hall is officially transferred over to TDChristian. A generous donor also donates an adjacent property on Kipling Avenue.

2016
Project 20/20, the school’s sixth major building project, launches. The Class of 2016 consisting of 130 students becomes the largest in TDChristian’s history.

 

TDChristian Celebrates 50 years

2014
A black box theatre/classroom is completed on the north side of the commons room and a new sound booth is built on the south wall adjacent to the communications technology classroom.

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2012-13
TDChristian celebrates Year 50 with many events – thanking God for the hundreds of supporters who faithfully contributed to making Christian secondary school education a reality and continuing presence in the GTA. God is good!

2012
The school buys the adjacent Vaughan fire hall property (which it officially takes possession of in 2017 when the fire fighters move out).

Project 2010 (2008-2010)​

2010
A substantial solar panel array is installed on the school’s roof.  TDChristian begins feeding energy back to the provincial power grid.

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2009
TDChristian completes Project 2010, early and on budget. The expansion to the back of the building (west side) increases the building size by more than 20 percent, to approximately 75,000 square feet. Incorporating many green features and the latest innovations in education, Project 2010 features state of the art science, chemistry, physics, and biology rooms, a dedicated Environmental Block classroom, and expanded art and music rooms.

TDChristian Celebrates 45 Years and Embraces the Future

2008
The stakeholders and supporters of TDChristian celebrate God’s faithfulness to the school for the past 45 years. They are introduced to “Embracing the Future: Project 2010,” a campaign which will fund a facility expansion to create more space for the arts and sciences.

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TDChristian High School Launches International Co-op Program (2006-2007)

2007
Inspired by the school theme “The Gift of the Stranger,” students participate in a two-week Drama Tour to China in July, go on the first-ever International Co-op Trip (to Belize for three months), and a March Break trip to Nicaragua in partnership with World Wide Christian Schools.

2006
A decision is made to explore partnering with Hamilton District Christian High School to offer a co-op program in Belize.

Project 2000 (1999-2005)

2005
The mortgage is burned at the Fall Membership Meeting and the new parking lot is completed.

2004
A second piece of land is purchased on the east side of the property and plans are made for expanding the parking lot.

2003
A fitness centre and health classroom are added to the north side of the gym. A balcony is added on the north side of the commons room. Single tall lockers are replaced with double-stacked lockers so that counters with computers can be installed in the hallways. Vacant land adjacent to the school is purchased.

2002
The gym floor is replaced and a new kitchen completed.

2001
The remaining section of pre-1980 construction is demolished, renewed, and expanded to provide new commons room that doubles as a space for drama productions and assemblies. A communications technology room, and studio along with additional classroom space are also added. The school is expected to reach its capacity of 450 students by the fall of 2002.

2000
Most of the pre-1980 section of the building is gutted and redone, including the replacement of the roof, windows, insulation, and lighting and heating systems. Air conditioning is added.

1999
Plans are made to renovate and expand the facility to provide an enhanced learning environment for preparing teens for service in the 21st century.

1995
A decision is made to make technology accessible throughout the school.​

Renewed Vision (1994)​

1994 
Ren Siebenga becomes Principal. Under his leadership in November, TDChristian stakeholders come together to envisage a new future, set new goals, and renew the vision of the school. Over 100 students, parents, alumni, staff, board members, committee members, pastors, chapter representatives, elementary school board members, supporters, and church members participated.

Time for Transition (1986-1993)

1991 
The school was filled to capacity with about 400 students.

1988
TDChristian celebrated its 25th anniversary with a grand series of events.

Steady Growth (1965-1986)

Preparing teenagers to serve in God’s world became increasingly complex as society quickly changed. Additional facilities were built to meet the challenge.

1986 
Building additions and changes facilitated the teaching of industrial arts, home economics, music, computer skills and typing; offices for guidance counselling were also built. The additions were finished in early 1987.​

1981

Grade 13 is added to the school.

1977

Bill Barneveld becomes Principal. Under his leadership TDChristian clarifies its educational vision by further developing the staff and expanding the curriculum.

1974 
A commons room, library, art room, two classrooms, washrooms, and a staff room are added to the south part of the existing building.

1970 
Four extra classrooms are built on the south part of the existing building.

​Beginnings (1960-1965)

1965 
The brand new school opens with eight classrooms and a gymnasium to educate 130 students from Grades 9 to 12.

1964 
The “Holland Action” campaign raises $30,000, which is used to help buy a beautiful fifteen-acre site on Kipling Avenue in Woodbridge. The “Trowel Action ’64” campaign generates $115,000 of the $150,000 needed to construct a school building.

1963 
TDChristian opens as a parent-controlled school in the basement of Second Christian Reformed Church of Toronto. Classes start for 49 Grade 9 and 10 students with the hope of a new campus and building in the near future.

1960 
The Toronto District Association for Christian Secondary Education was founded. The seeds of TDChristian were planted by bold visionaries in the 1950s after several Christian elementary schools were established.