| Fisher Park High School | |
| City: | Ottawa |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Country: | Canada |
| Motto: | "Esto Dignus", |
| Motto Translation: | "Be Worthy" |
| Founded: | 1949 |
| Closed: | 1987 |
| Schoolboard: | Ottawa Carleton District School Board |
| Grades Label: | Grades |
| Grades: | 9-13 |
| Enrollment: | 490 (founding)- 1,900 (peak)- 500 (closure) |
| Language: | English, French |
| Campus: | Urban |
| Colours: | Red and White |
| Communities: | River Ward, with College Ward and Knoxdale-Merivale Ward; Island Park, Bel-Air Park and Bel-Air Heights, Copeland Park and Carlington neighbourhoods |
| Feeder Schools: | J. H. Putman Public School, D. Roy Kennedy Public School, St. Joseph Intermediate School |
Fisher Park High School (1949 - 1987) is a closed High School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Located within a kilometre of Island Park Drive, at 250 Holland Ave., Fisher Park's student population included children of many of Ottawa's wealthier citizens and a large contingent of Ottawa's Portuguese and Italian communities.
The story of Fisher Park began in 1945 when Ottawa had only four high schools, and a plan was underway by the Collegiate Institute Board (a cooperation between the Ottawa Separate School Board and the Ottawa Public School Board) to build Ottawa its fifth high school in what was then referred to as the West End. On July 25, 1945, after much debate, Fisher Park was chosen as the site for the new school, and was touted "the most up-to-date building for student and community use that can be built." On December 21, 1946, the Ontario Department of Education announced approval of the school's plans, and building would begin in the spring. The school was estimated to cost $1,450,000.
On November 12, 1948, His Excellency Viscount Alexander, Governor General of Canada, laid the cornerstone of Fisher Park High School.
By 1949, however, cost overruns in the building of the school were "deplored" and resulted in a protest by the Board of Trade. "The additional cost of Fisher High School will have a very decided impact on Ottawa's taxpayers" said Roy F. Fleming, the secretary of the Property Owner's Association at the time. Many felt that there was an over-emphasis on recreation (the plan had been to make Fisher Park not only a high school but also a community centre). Plans to make the small gym into a pool, as well as a "girls" gym on the second floor, were scrapped.
Nevertheless, Fisher Park High School opened with the first day of classes on September 6, 1949. Construction continued for the entire first year of the school. Fisher Park was officially opened by the Honourable Leslie Frost (Premier of Ontario 1949-61) on May 2, 1951. The school was named after a former Ottawa mayor and "distinguished Canadian", Harold Fisher.
When Laurentian High School opened in September 1958, 600 students enrolled, which was twice the number that had been expected. The LHS students reduced overcrowding at Nepean High School (Ottawa) and Fisher Park High School. Fisher High's enrolment dropped from 1,900 to 1,439 students.[1]
On November 28, 1966 the Auditorium of Fisher Park High School was the location of the Ottawa debut of Janet Baker.[2] [3] [4]
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fisher Park's home rooms and intramural sports teams were subdivided into six coloured 'houses'. Upon arrival to the school, a student was assigned to a 'house' and remained in that house for their entire stay at Fisher Park. The six houses were Blue, Green, Orange, Red, White and Yellow. Points were awarded for the results of all intramural sports and a winning house was named at the end of each academic year with an appropriately coloured banner raised in the large gymnasium to honour that house.
The school crest was designed by Mr. Robert Walker, then the art director of Fisher Park High School's vocational art course, in the summer of 1952. The crest represented all courses within Fisher Park. The open book on the crest is symbolic of the general course, the open book representing learning. The three smaller panels below represent the three other courses at Fisher, the technical course, the art course, and the commercial course. A T-square, flask, cogwheel and electrical spark represent the technical course, the ship of commerce represents the commercial course, and the art section represented by a palette, brushes, pen and ink. The motto "Esto[5] Dignus", "Be Worthy", was given to Fisher Park by its first vice-principal, Mr. L. McCarthy." - 69-70 Fi-Pa-Hi Yearbook
In 1994 the school reopened as Fisher Park Public School, a middle-school for students in grades 7 and 8. The building is also shared with the Summit Alternative School.
The following varsity sports teams had major successes:
Principals at FPHS included: