Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019
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The Ontario School for the Deaf
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted December, 2010
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2007
Plaque Location
The County of Hastings
The City of Belleville
In front of the main building of the School for the Deaf
on the northwest corner of Dundas Street West (Road 2)
and Palmer Road, entrance off Dundas Street
Coordinates: N 44 09.049 W 77 24.221 |
 |
Plaque Text
In 1869, at the urging of John B. McGann, a pioneer educator of the hearing impaired, the Ontario government sanctioned the establishment of the first provincial school for deaf children. A residential institution combining elementary school instruction with vocational training, the Ontario Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb was officially opened in October 1870. Increasing enrolment during the following decades led to steady expansion and improvement of facilities. When curricula were revised and advanced academic instruction introduced during the tenure of Dr. Charles B. Coughlin (1906-28), the school gained wide recognition for its contributions to special education. Renamed the Ontario School for the Deaf in 1913, it became the Sir James Whitney School in 1974 in honour of Ontario's sixth prime minister.
Another plaque at this location
Samuel Thomas Greene 1843-1890
Related Ontario plaque
The Ontario School for the Blind
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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted May 15, 2013
I love my old school from Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf! I joined that school year 1980 til 1994 I leave school. I never forget that school when I little kid have: Halloween, Party, Christmas. I real love that. I ask you. I wonder if I want to know yearbooks club of history. Can have internet of yearbooks club of history ? Letting me to know about this okay. Thank you very much
from: Chris Dafoe
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