Bedford Road Collegiate
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2011) |
| Bedford Road Collegiate | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Front of the school | |
| Address | |
 | |
722 Bedford Road , , S7L 0G2 | |
| Coordinates | 52°08′02″N 106°40′49″W / 52.134°N 106.6804°W |
| Information | |
| Funding type | Public |
| Motto | Tradition, Commitment, Excellence |
| Opened | 1923 |
| School board | Saskatoon Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Colleen Norris |
| Principal | Tammy Girolami |
| Grades | Grade 9 to Grade 12 |
| Enrollment | 643[1] (2017) |
| Education system | Saskatoon Public School Department |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Red, White and Black |
| Mascot | Big Red |
| Team name | Redhawks |
| Website | Bedford Road Collegiate |
Bedford Road Collegiate is a public high school on the west side of the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is Saskatoon's second oldest high school, opened on February 12, 1923. It is also known as BRCI (Bedford Road Collegiate Institute), or Bedford. Bedford Road Collegiate is part of the Saskatoon Public School Division.The school is well-known for hosting the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT), one of the largest high school basketball events in Western Canada. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Bedford Road offers the rigorous IB Diploma Program,[2][3] along with specialized courses such as Cadet Orientation Police Studies (COPS), Fire Introduction Recruitment Experience (FIRE), and Pre-Engineering. Additionally, the school provides various arts and technical programs, including Visual Arts, and Guitar and Amplifier Design. [4]
Feeder schools are Caswell Community School, Henry Kelsey School, King George Community School, Mayfair Community School, and Westmount Community School.
Campus
[edit]The Bedford Road Collegiate campus is located in the Westmount neighborhood of Saskatoon, close to the downtown area. The school building is a blend of historic and modern architecture, reflecting its long history and continuous updates over the years.[5]
The original structure, built in 1923, features traditional brick architecture, which has been carefully preserved to maintain its historical significance.[6] Over the decades, the building has undergone several renovations to modernize its facilities, ensuring it remains up-to-date for contemporary educational needs.
The campus includes modern science labs, computer labs, and art studios. Its library serves as a resource hub for both students and staff. The school's auditorium, which hosts assemblies, theatrical productions, and community events, is a key feature of the campus.[7] Additionally, a student commons area provides space for social interaction and study.
Athletic facilities at Bedford Road Collegiate include a gymnasium, a fitness center, and outdoor sports fields for soccer, football, and track and field activities.[8]
Redmen name and logo
[edit]In the early 1960s, Bedford Road Collegiate adopted the "Indian Head" logo as the symbol for its sports teams, replacing the original "Lantern" logo.[9] This change reflected the team name, the "Redmen", a moniker that had been used for several decades in reference to the red uniforms the school's teams had worn since its founding in 1923.[10] By the mid-1990s, a campaign to change the "Redmen" name and "Indian Head" logo was initiated, driven by concerns that the imagery and name were offensive to Indigenous peoples.[11] A student vote in 1996 supported retaining the "Redmen" name and logo.[citation needed]
Discussion of the issue continued, and in 2013 supporters of changing the team name and logo attempted to protest at the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament but were prevented from entering the school by staff and police.[12]
In 2014 the team name was changed to the "Redhawks", and the logo to a red-tailed hawk, inspired by the red-tailed hawk native to the Saskatchewan region. The new logo and name were suggested by a committee of students, staff, and alumni.[13] [14]
Student life
[edit]Athletics
[edit]Bedford Road Collegiate's sports teams are known as the Redhawks, and (although less commonly used today) "Lady Redhawks" for female teams. Athletic programs include football, cheerleading, wrestling, basketball, soccer, badminton, track & field, golf, and cross country. Bedford Road also hosts sports tournaments the Redhawks Classic and Redhawks Volley, along with the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament.[citation needed]
Graduation
[edit]Graduation ceremonies for Bedford Road Collegiate take place at Merlis Belsher Place, a prominent venue in Saskatoon, alongside other schools from the Saskatoon Public School Division.[15]
Bedford Road Invitational Tournament
[edit]The Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT) is a prestigious boys' high school basketball tournament that has been held annually at Bedford Road Collegiate since 1968.[citation needed] Over the years Brit has hosted 133 teams, more than 1,400 players, and teams from seven provinces and three countries.[16]
Notable alumni
[edit]- Ethel Catherwood, Olympic track and field gold medalist
- Michael Garnett, hockey player for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL
- William Leonard Higgitt, RCMP Commissioner
- Roy Romanow, Premier of Saskatchewan (1991–2001)[17]
- Lefty Wilkie, Major League Baseball player
References
[edit]- ^ Active List of Saskatchewan Schools/Programs (PDF), retrieved 2018-02-10
- ^ "Bedford Road Collegiate". ibo.org. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Saskatoon Public Schools. "International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme". Saskatoon Public Schools. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ SPARK (2022–2023). "The Official BRC SURVIVAL GUIDE" (PDF). SPSD.
- ^ "Historic schools stand the test of time". The StarPhoenix. June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Saskatoon Public Schools marks 100 years of Bedford Road Collegiate". CBC News. April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Saskatoon school embraces heritage while looking to future". CTV News. July 7, 2020.
- ^ "Bedford Road upgrades benefit students and the community". Saskatoon Public Schools. August 25, 2023.
- ^ "Bedford Road Collegiate adopts Redhawks name". CBC News. March 19, 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "Bedford Road prepares to shed controversial team name, logo". CTV Saskatoon. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "Calls to change 'Redmen' name resurface in Saskatoon". CBC News. November 29, 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Protest about 'Redmen' thwarted at Saskatoon high school". CBC News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Giles, David (30 April 2014). "Wordle' helping Bedford Road come up with new logo, team name". Global News. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "From Redmen to Redhawks: Saskatchewan school changes name, logo for sports teams". CityNews Calgary. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Cameron, Colleen (June 27, 2024). "PSA: SPS Students Celebrating Grade 12 Graduation; Congratulations to All Our New Grads!". SPSD.
- ^ "BRIT is back: Western Canada's premiere high school basketball tournament returns for 53rd year". Saskatoon. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
- ^ "Roy Romanow". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-07.