Our History

Convocation Traditions at Albert College

It is a tradition at Albert College to conclude each school year with an all-school, Albert College family photo on the front steps of the school. Faculty, staff and all students, from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, gather for the photo which is added to the collection and proudly displayed in Alumni Hall. Alumni returning to the school one year or 50 years after graduation find themselves in these photos and fondly reminisce about their time at Albert College.

Albert College’s annual Convocation ceremony is a true celebration of success.

Dating back to 1939, it has been tradition that female students wear white dresses. The female graduates also wore white gloves from 1946 until 1966 as pictured. As well, a flower corsage was pinned to their dresses until 1950 when the corsage changed to small bouquets that each carried, then called posies. Male graduates wore a jacket and tie until the Albert College uniform - a crested blazer and school tie - was introduced for the boys about 1956. The details of this photo have changed slightly throughout the years, but the tradition remains today.

Capping-off the school’s 160th anniversary celebrations with the class of 2017 in June, Albert College graduated 38 students from Canada and nine countries around the world. As graduates move beyond the stone walls of Albert College they will reflect on the memories they created steeped in timeless traditions.

The Albert College Junior School

The story of elementary education at Albert College began in the 1950’s with the “Jack and Jill” daycare. In 1995, the vision to create a Junior School was underway. Grades 5 and 6 were offered in one classroom in the A wing at the Senior School being taught by Ric Anderson who later went on to become the principal for 12 years. In 1997, Grades 1 to 4 were introduced, and were located in two rooms at the girls’ residence, Victoria Manor, located on Highland Avenue. The Junior School was initiated by parents looking for an independent elementary program in Belleville for their younger children.

Thanks to the dedication of parents, staff, the Board of Governors and many generous donors, The Parrott Junior School was built in 2003 on the school’s main campus and opened on time and on budget. The cornerstone is made of stone from the original Albert College that was located on College Street East in 1857. A time capsule was also placed behind the cornerstone and includes student, parent and teacher testimonials, an Albert College flag, a map of Belleville, coins and a Junior Kindergarten clip-on tie.

The Parrott Junior School was named in honour of local philanthropists, Jack and Bernice Parrott.

Mr. Parrott served as an active board member at Albert College for 34 years working with eight headmasters during his tenure. With the beautiful Parrott Junior School in full operation, Albert College welcomed part-time Senior Kindergarten students for the first time in September 2003.

In 2010, Albert College evolved again with a full-time Junior and Senior Kindergarten program and a new Pre-Kindergarten program for students as young as two and a half years old. The Junior School once again had taken back space at Victoria Manor to facilitate the Pre-Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten programs, now called the Early Primary Learning Centre (EPLC). Today, just over 100 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6 are enrolled at the EPLC and Parrott Junior School led by Heath Beatson, Principal. 

As part of the 160th graduating class, four students who  attended Albert College since Kindergarten graduated. These students were also a part of the first class to graduate from the Parrott Junior School. 

Loved by all, Jessie B. Tuite

Jessie B. Tuite was a teacher and the Dean of Women who “made real men of boys in voice, expression and in poise,” according to the yearbook of 1922 then called The Albert College Times. Miss Tuite was loved by all. So much so that the senior boys used to threaten the younger boys, if they didn’t behave in her class they would be dealt with. Miss Tuite coached Albert College student dramatists off campus from a downtown studio. She was instrumental in arranging student plays and other dramatic productions at the school.

Former Faculty member, Molly McIntyre joined the faculty of Albert College in 1972 and recalls meeting the retired Miss Tuite: “Mr. Joe MacKay was Headmaster at the time and would visit Miss Tuite in her home frequently. As the new and nervous Dean of Women, I went to meet Miss Tuite and asked for her advice. I remember her response distinctly. She was indeed a very wise woman, and her counsel certainly held me in good stead. ‘Be able to laugh’, was what she said.”

The very first stained-glass window installed in the Memorial Chapel at Albert College was dedicated to Jessie B. Tuite. Created with donations from former students, the window is a testament to her 40 years of dedication from 1912 to 1952. She lived to be 99 years old and passed away on November 23, 1981. Miss Tuite is fondly remembered and remains a significant figure in Albert’s history today.

Iconic Former Headmaster, Reverend Dr. Bert Howard

In September of 1930, things were dark at Albert College. The Great Depression had begun, the economy had crashed, and many students had to leave the school. Enrolment was almost half of what it had been the year before. The downward slide continued for the next few years, and by 1934, tuition had been reduced to $500, insurance policies had been cancelled, the taxes were in arrears, and salaries and trade accounts were falling behind. In the summer of 1934, Reverend Dr. Charles W. Bishop submitted his resignation.

Reverend Dr. Bert Howard took on the headship of Albert College for the 1934-35 school year. Extremely reluctant to leave his Saskatchewan parish and come to Belleville, he was convinced by the church administration that his skills were needed. On arrival, he was strengthened by the presence of four iconic teachers- Miss Jessie Tuite, Dr. Tom McMullen, Mr. Bert Simpson and Mr. Taylor Franklin.

Under Reverend Howard’s guidance, important changes started to take place as Albert College began to recover from the Great Depression. Day girls were welcomed back to Albert College in 1934, and The Manor was purchased in 1936 for $3,515 as the girls’ residence (now known as Victoria Manor). The school also hired a professionally qualified coach, Mr. N.A. “Pete” Beach in 1935 who came from the University of Western Ontario. An enlarged academic program and new athletic program brought more students to the College as economic conditions began to improve. Dedicated faculty and staff added to the atmosphere of confidence and achievement.

Under Reverend Howard’s prudent and dedicated leadership, the school’s debts were paid and the College became prosperous once again. While Reverend Howard may have been reluctant to take the helm, he remained the guiding force of Albert College for 18 years. He took the school from the verge of bankruptcy to a position of prominence in Belleville, and established Albert College as the fine academic institution it is today. All those who have benefited from their connection to Albert College owe a debt of gratitude to Reverend Bert Howard. 

Mr. Joe MacKay and the Christmas Tradition at Albert College

At Albert College traditions have established the identity of the school, creating a unique culture. Many traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and have been celebrated throughout the decades, creating a common thread of shared experiences among students regardless of age. The Boar’s Head procession is one of these traditions.

Mr. Joe MacKay (1947-1980) introduced the singing of the “The Boar’s Head Carol” and is pictured with a chorus of male carollers in Ackerman Hall at Albert College in 1967. Carollers would have just processed from the kitchen and crossed the dining hall to present the boar’s head to the Headmaster and his guests at the head table.

In keeping with this tradition, each December, Albert College celebrates the holiday season as a family. In Ackerman Hall, the lights are strung and the tables are decorated and set. Students, staff and faculty gather together to enjoy a meal together complete with all the fixings. The banquet begins with the procession and singing of “The Boar’s Head Carol.”

Mr. MacKay was hired to teach mathematics in 1947 by Headmaster Dr. Bert Howard (1934-52). In the course of his 33 years at Albert, Mr. MacKay was also the Dean of Men, Assistant Headmaster, and for the last two years of his tenure he became the Headmaster.

Pilot Officer, Lloyd George Bishop ’37

Attended Albert College 1936-37. Killed in action March 12, 1940 (World War II)

Word was received in a cable message from the War Office to his father, Reverend Alfred Bishop, United Church Minister, of the death of his son in air operations somewhere in France. On August 8, 1940, Rev. Alfred Bishop received the belongings of his late son including a diary which Pilot Officer Bishop had in his pocket the day he was killed. He made his last entry in the diary on March 11, saying that he has been over the line and there was very little doing, but he had heard anti-aircraft fire.

Following his son’s death, Rev. Bishop received a letter from his heroic son, who had been with the Royal Air Force since November 1938, describing an oil tanker blowing up under him while he was piloting a Hawker Hurricane single-seat fighting plane.

“I was in the air at about 3:04 p.m., leading a V formation with three Hurricanes including myself. We were out over the channel carrying out radiotelephony air drills, manoeuvres, etc. I was using an oil tanker below us as a marker to execute a steep turn in formation, when suddenly the plane was blown literally out of my hands. We had been at 300 feet and my altimeter spun around to 3300 feet. I regained control and looked down. The oil tanker had exploded amid-ships, and planks were still raining down. She was blazing furiously, huge flames and black smoke. Oil, too, had spread over the water and it was afire. She was settling down in the water and sank about 15 minutes later. I immediately signaled line astern formation. We circled around and I called base on my radio. I told them about it, gave them my position and requested orders. By this time two boats had been lowered from the tanker, this I reported also. The radio officer got the squadron leader who ordered me to get the name of the vessel and to carry out a wide circle of the tanker in case she exploded again. I was to keep a sharp lookout for a submarine and if one surfaced I was to lead the formation and machine-gun it. In the meantime, (this I learned later) the nearest naval unit was warned and a destroyer set out at full speed. Lifeboats were ordered out from lifesaving stations on the shore and some bombing machines were loaded and set off to trail me and blow the submarine if she surfaced and if there really was one. Well I went down, having ordered the formation to carry on. I circled her at about 50 feet. The flames were all over her and the name I got off her bow was Invergary of Dublin. It turned out later it was Invergargle, but many of the letters were burned off by then. To make a long story short, we saw no submarine and neither did the bomber boys who arrived soon. At about 3:20 p.m. the tanker suddenly broke in the middle and sank immediately. Then we got our orders to return to base, land and report while the tankers carried on.” A crew of 18 aboard the Invergargle were killed by the explosion of the German torpedo.

Bishop was in his third year at Queen’s University (Arts ’39) when he received the call and joined the Royal Air Force in England. His memorial service was held on March 20 in the Morgan Chapel, Old Arts Building at Queen’s University. He was 22 years old. Bishop was a member of the 73rd Fighter Squadron and was the only Canadian in that unit.

Ella Gardiner is remembered as a gracious lady who taught at the school for more than 40 years from 1885 to 1928.

After retiring, she helped establish the school’s Alumni Association. She devoted her whole life to Albert College – teacher, board member and friend. She died in 1933. Miss Gardiner is considered a pioneer in education in Ontario who fought for the rights of women.

Today, Albert College is a respected independent school teaching students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. Miss Ella Gardiner remains a treasured part of its past. Her portrait still hangs in the front hall of the Senior School, and as a tribute, a classroom bears her name.