Crescent Heights High School (Calgary) Explained

Crescent Heights High School
Postcode:	T2M 2S2
Coordinates:	51.0615°N -114.0656°W
Schooltype:	Public secondary
Motto:	Crescit Eundo (Latin for: We progress as we grow)
Established:	1915
Principal:	Joel Leavitt
Grades:	10–12
Enrollment:	1934
Enrollment As Of:	2022
Grade10:	665
Grade11:	626
Grade12:	643
Colours:	Navy, Red, and White
Mascot:	Cowboy Sam
Team Name:	Cowboys
Alumni:	Colton Stevens
Address:	1019 1st Street N.W.
Pushpin Map:	Canada Calgary
Schoolboard:	Calgary Board of Education

Crescent Heights High School is a high school with an enrollment of 1934 students in grades 10–12 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The school is part of the Calgary Board of Education's public school system.

History

In 1915, Crescent Heights High School was called Crescent Heights Collegiate Institute, and was located in what is now Balmoral School. By 1919, enrollment at Crescent Heights High School was 980 students. The current building was erected in 1928 for a cost of $275,000.^[1] It was extensively renovated in 1985–86, with a second full-size gymnasium added, and the original gymnasium converted into a student center. The basement lunch room was converted into a theater and a Building shop was later turned into a Dance room.

The school is a member of the Action for Bright TUTTA Society.^[2]

Notable staff

• The first principal of Crescent Heights from 1915 to 1935 was William Aberhart, later Premier of Alberta.
• Another early teacher was Douglas Scott Harkness, who commanded an Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery in the Second World War and served as Minister of National Defence after the war.

Filmography

In 2015, the Movie "Burn your Maps" was partially filmed at Crescent Heights in the Summer of 2015

In 2021, The TV Series "Highschool" Season 1 featuring Tegan and Sara was filmed at Crescent Heights during the Spring Break.^[3]

Notable alumni

• Doris Anderson - Former editor of Chatelaine magazine.
• Paul Brandt - Country music artist^[4]
• George Chahal - Canadian politician who is the Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview. He served as the Councillor for Ward 5 on the Calgary City Council from 2017 to 2021.
• Sean Cheesman - International dance choreographer^[5]
• Tommy Chong - Comedian/Actor
• Michael Clarkson – Journalist, Centre for Investigative Journalism Award recipient^{[6] [7]}
• Thomas Glenn - GRAMMY Award-winning operatic tenor.^{[8] [9] [10]}
• Eric Greif - Lawyer and entertainment personality^[11]
• Akeem Haynes - Part of Canada's bronze medal-winning Men's 4 × 100 metres relay team in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ^[12]
• Violet King Henry - The first black person to graduate law in Alberta and to be admitted to the Alberta Bar, as well as the first black female lawyer in Canada.^[13]
• Ralph Klein - The 12th Premier of Alberta, started at Crescent Heights, later graduated from Viscount Bennett High School
• Rizwan Manji - Portrayed Rajiv on the show Outsourced
• Janet Mitchell - artist^[14]
• Tegan and Sara Quin - Indie rock/New Wave/Indie Pop musicians, Graduated from Crescent Heights High School in 1998
• George Salt (1903–2003), English entomologist and ecologist, who spent most of his youth in Alberta
• Ron Southern - Founder of ATCO Group, Sentgraf Enterprises, Canadian Utilities, Spruce Meadows and AKITA drilling
• Ken Taylor - Former Canadian ambassador to Iran, who helped several Americans escape during the Iran hostage crisis.
• 82 Former Crescent Heights High School students are recognized by a memorial and simulated eternal flame in the school foyer as having given their lives in military service in the Second World War.^[15]

Notes and References

1. News: Cornerstones: Crescent Heights High School . Cornerstones . Calgary Public Library . 2006-05-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021221213418/http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/calgary/historic_tours/corner/chhs.htm . December 21, 2002 .
2. Web site: Gifted Schools - Calgary . 2016-05-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161007224835/http://www.abccalgary.com/schools.html . 2016-10-07 . dead .
3. Web site: 2022-09-13 . Official High School Trailer Release + Cover of Smashing Pumpkins . 2023-04-21 . Tegan and Sara . en-US.
4. News: Crescent Heights High School . SchoolNet GrassRoots Program . Industry Canada . 2006-05-28 .
5. https://web.archive.org/web/20090117233651/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080421/bio_cheesman/20080423/?s_name=dance2008 Sean Cheeseman, ctv.ca
6. News: All Their Tomorrows . . June 9, 1991 . 6–10 . Herald Sunday Magazine . Clarkson . Michael . Michael Clarkson (journalist) . Newspapers.com.
7. News: CBC man wins award for tainted tuna story . . March 17, 1986 . B7 . 99 . 413 . Newspapers.com.
8. News: GRAMMYs Past Winners Search . .
9. News: Mike . Aylward . Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling Preview - . . 2005 . 2006-05-28 .
10. News: Graham Claims Bronze Medal at Prestigious World University Wrestling Championships . Canadian Interuniversity Sport . 2006-06-08 . 2006-05-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040725173946/http://www.universitysport.ca/e/story_detail.cfm?id=2650 . 2004-07-25 .
11. Class of 1980, as shown in the class photos on the second floor
12. Web site: Akeem Haynes.
13. Web site: Featured Centenary 'Firsts' Story: Violet King (U of A Law 1953). Thompson. Katherine. December 25, 2012. University of Alberta. https://web.archive.org/web/20160716141841/https://www.ualberta.ca/law/news/main-news/2012/december/featuredcentenaryfirstsstory-violetkinguofalaw1953. July 16, 2016.
14. News: Gustafson . Paula . Artist's Impression . Calgary Herald . C1 . 1981-09-22.
15. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/fatalities/chhsfat.htm canadiansoldiers.com listing of CHHS Fatal Casualties in the Second World War