Orillia Secondary School

Orillia Secondary School (also known as OSS) is a secondary school located in Orillia, Ontario. It was established in 2015, following the 2013 merger of Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute and Park Street Collegiate Institute, and has a population of about 1,200 students as of the 2021–2022 academic year.^[2] The school building was built between 2014 and 2016, and is equipped with a triple gymnasium, technology rooms, a library, and cafeteria. The principal is Brae Montgomery.^[3]

Orillia Secondary School
Address
250 Collegiate Dr Orillia , Ontario , L3V 7S5 Canada
Coordinates	44.6159°N 79.4254°W / 44.6159; -79.4254
Information
School type	Public
Founded	1887, as Orillia High School current building 2015
Superintendent	Matthew Webbe[1]
Principal	Brae Montgomery
Grades	9 to 12
Enrollment	1,200 (2021–2022)
Language	English
Team name	Nighthawks
Website	oss.scdsb.on.ca

Origins

After the 2012–2013 academic year, Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute was merged with Park Street Collegiate Institute, which after declining enrollment, was demolished so that a new school could be built on its former site, at the intersection of Park Street and Collegiate Drive.^[4][5][6]

Progress Pride flag controversy

In early June 2024, the school flew the Progress Pride flag in order to comply with a request from the Simcoe County District School Board's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department. However, the school only had one flag pole, and the national flag normally flies on it. It is against the flag protocol to fly the national flag with another flag on the same pole.^[7] The pride flag thus flew alone, and some students reported being upset with this decision, believing it is only appropriate to fly the national flag. One OSS student who identifies as bisexual and transgender started a petition to replace it with the Canadian flag again, stating the decision "led to an increase in bullying of students from the 2SLGBTQ+ community".^[8]

Notable alumni

• Leslie Frost, politician
• Gordon Lightfoot, musician
• Ethan Moreau, NHL player

See also

• Education in Ontario
• List of secondary schools in Ontario

References

1. "Matt Webbe". Simcoe District School Board. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
2. Ontario, Government of. "School Information Finder". www.app.edu.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
3. "School Information". scdsboncaoss.ss14.sharpschool.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
4. Carson, Sara (7 May 2013). "Closing time nears at Park Street". Orillia Packet & Times. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
5. Arsalides, Mike (25 September 2013). "Rivals become teammates in Orillia". CTV News Barrie. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
6. Carson, Sara (30 August 2013). "Students, teachers share nervous, anxious feelings as first day of school approaches at OD/Park". Orillia Packet & Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
7. Canada, Government of. "Rules for flying the National Flag of Canada".
8. "Pride flag at Orillia school doing 'more harm than good'". OrilliaMatters.com. 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2024-07-21.