Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School (SJD, "The Dunn") was a high school located on Wellington St. in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Adjacent to Algoma University, with Anna McCrea Elementary School in between them, this school was founded in 1957 and named after the late Canadian financier and industrialist, James Hamet Dunn. Sir James Dunn and Anna McCrea schools were created on the lands of the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School, during a period of Indigenous educational integration.

Recognitions

Sir James Dunn Collegiate & Vocational School was often recognized in its community for its leading music, arts, and athletics programs, having won many local sports championships and arts and music competitions. The school mascot, the Eagle, represents its many sports teams and clubs.

In Fall 2010, SJD and Bawating Collegiate and Vocational School were combined at the SJD location for one year, to form the temporary new high school "Superior Heights". Then, in Fall 2011 a newer, larger school was opened on the old Bawating site, called Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School. The Sir James Dunn site was demolished in 2016.[1] In 2022, the property is now a field, with little to no evidence of the SJD and it’s storied past. It is expected that as Algoma University continues to expand, this space will eventually become part of the university campus, which would be bordered by Wellington Street East on the north side of the property.

The 2016 film The Void was filmed in the Sault, specifically on location at the Dunn before its demise.

Activities

Dunnplugged was a concert performed by students in the school theatre during lunch hour. Performances range from bands to instrumentalists to acoustic performances.[2] The Dunnplugged performance proceeds have allowed the school to record full CDs with original music written by students. Notable bands from Dunnplugged's past include The Chuck Herriman Experience The Tenagens, Fabio, Brain Tuel, Kalle Mattson, Cookies for Breakfast, Lankee, Caddy Street Avenue, Renderware, as well as the Kiss tribute band "Creatures of the Night."

Notable alumni

  • Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian female astronaut and the first neurologist in space
  • Wayne Gretzky, Canadian professional hockey player and coach
  • Treble Charger band, formed at Sir James Dunn by students Greig Nori, Bill Priddle, Rosie Martin, and Richard Mulligan

References

  1. ↑ Darren Taylor (April 6, 2016). "The Dunn is coming down. Wanna buy some cool old stuff?". Sootoday.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Sir James Dunn Collegiate & Vocational School" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011.

46°30′31″N 84°17′19″W / 46.5086°N 84.2885°W / 46.5086; -84.2885

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