100th Year History for PACI

HISTORY OF “THE OLD SCHOOL ON THE HILL”

Throughout its history, PACI has demonstrated in many ways the youthful energy, enthusiasm, high spirits and creativeness of its students.

In the spring of 1907, a public meeting elected the members of the first High School Board in Prince Albert.  The school, under the new board, opened on September 3 in two rooms rented from the Public School Board.  Mr. P. E. Graham was the first Principal of the High School.

On October 14, 1907, the Board took the necessary steps to raise $95,000 for the erection of the High School Building and the purchase of the site.  The present site was chosen because when you look North “you had a wonderful view of the City itself, the grand old Saskatchewan Riverand the wooded hills in the distance.”  The cornerstone of the building was laid on August 4, 1908.  The Prince Albert High School No. 3 was officially opened on September 10, 1910.

From it’s beginning in January 1910, students began to organize activities in the Literary Society that planned programs of music, skits and speakers.  The Society also chose the school colors of red, gold and black, the school motto Conatu Vincimus .  In those days the knowledge of latin was the mark of a man of great learning.  It was natural then to use Latin in order to tell students that they must work hard in order to get somewhere.  Conatu Vincimus – By Striving We Succeed.  Later, the Student Activities Association took over management of student activities.

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The first Commencement was held in the High School in 1912 with five (5) students graduating from Grade XII.  It was similar to the present Commencement without the parades.  As late as 1920 boys and girls were not permitted to dance together at parties.

 Taken from the 1938 Yearbook……….

‘It matters not the years we live

How long the sands run in the grass

This only matters, that we give

Our service as we pass.’

The production of yearbooks always played a large part in student life, and left a valuable record for the enjoyment of graduates.  The first was published in 1921 and provides an interesting look at life at PACI at that time.  It was not until 1934 that another was produced, but from 1938 on, a yearbook was published every year.

School dances were an important social activity.  Until the addition with an auditorium was completed in 1949, the dances were held in the lower hallway and part of the old small auditorium.  These were somewhat formal with a receiving line and lunches.  The girls wore long dresses in spite of having to walk long distances, often in cold weather.  Later years usually saw eight (8) dances per year with a particular theme and decorations.  The Collegiate auditorium was the scene of a variety of social events, such as the get-together dance, Sadie Hawkins Night, Commando Ball and Cadets Dance.  The auditorium occupying the area which is now the hall leading into the south edition, and the Phys Ed offices on one side and the storage room on the other provided very limited room for dancing and other activities.

Sports have always been important.  Formerly, many sports activities took place away from the school – hockey in the old Maple Leaf Skating Rink and basketball in the Armouries.  The Auditorium in the 1949 expansion allowed for more basketball, volleyball, and badminton.  When new high schools were built in a lively inter-school sports program developed.  The football field at PACI was the scene of many exciting games.  The PACI Trophy cupboard at one time contained the Sherriff Neilson Shield, which was first presented in 1913.  Graham Neilson came to Prince Albertin 1879 and was appointed Sherriff in 1897.  He had much to do with installing the fountain and landscaping the campus.

The War years of 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945 created a number of changes in the lives of students.   The War had its effect on collegiate life.  There was an impressive array of enlistments in the Canadian Army, and inevitable war casualties.  Army Cadets were organized in 1915 and Air Cadets in 1942.  In the flu epidemic of 1918 – 1919 the school was closed for some time and turned into a hospital to reduce the pressure on the two hospitals.  Classroom Red Cross and war bond sales were part of the schools distribution to the war effort.

An air of mystery surrounds the origin of both the school song and yell.  “All Hail to Thee Collegiate” made its first appearance on a Collegiate Day program in 1922.  Both J.V. Hicks and Mr. Ian Barrie were students at the time, but both deny any part in its authorship.  It is known that the tune is the same as that of DalhousieUniversity, and perhaps some missionary-minded teacher brought this bit of eastern culture with them to exert its benign influence on the western heathens.  The school yell came into existence about the same time and the same explanation could possibly be used for its introduction.

The 1930’s saw a rapid increase in PACI’s student population.  The depression and  Prince Albert’s debt situation prevented the building of more accommodation.  Consequently, classes were staggered.  Grades 9 and 12 had classes from 8:30 – 12:30and Grades 10 and 11 had classes from 12:30 – 5:10.  Students had to carry a lot of books back and forth as PACI was the only high school.  There was little public transport so some students had to walk considerable distances.

Student energy and enthusiasm were demonstrated in the number and variety of clubs that were formed and contributed to the richness of collegiate life.  Without attempting to list them over the years, these were some of them:  Teen Times, Hi-School Hi-Lites on CKBI Radio, Drama Club, Photography Club, Glee Club, Library Club, Junior Mayor and Council.

The first Collegiate Day, the annual awarding of prizes and scholarships to the organized by the students and held in the Orpheum Theatre was in May 1937.  Until that time the ceremony, and it was a ceremony, was organized by adults in the St. Paul’s Church in the fall of the year.  New life was injected into it when the students took over.  The Collegiate Day parade became an important event in student life, and also for the City.  Each room prepared a float and the themes chosen were many and varied.  The parades continued until 1955.  The Halloween Snake Dance became something of  a substitute for the parade.  Each of the high schools organized a snake dance on Halloween through the downtown area.  It ended at the ArcadeDance Hallor Armouries for a dance sponsored by a service club.  This was an opportunity to demonstrate school spirit.

Variety Night programs became an important part of Collegiate life after the auditorium was added.  These programs demonstrated music, dancing and performing skills of the students.  Much planning went into the selection of the performers.  The programs were well staged and the originality and exuberance of the performances made for very interesting evenings.

In later years their were a number of activities in which many students took part.  The annual visit of Grade 12 students to the Saskatooncampus of the University gave them a valuable introduction to varsity life.  Information was obtained about the various colleges, and for some students probably created a desire to continue on to post high-school education.

The Model United Nations gave students from the city high schools a greater insight into world affairs.  This provided an opportunity to debate and try their hands at the manipulation of various opposing nations in trying to maintain peace and international prosperity.

Air Cadets, organized in 1942 led to the formation of the Air Cadet band.  This early band was enlarged into the Collegiate Band that continued to function until 1960.  In 1957 the name was changed from the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute Band to the Prince Albert Collegiate Band because a number of musicians were from Riverside Collegiate.  In 1960 the band became the Prince Albert Lions Band.  Each year during its long life, the school band performed at a number of functions and took part in the Provincial Band Festival in Moose Jaw.

The actual physical plant comprising PACI has changed over the years.  The original building was constructed in 1910, with the south addition being completed in 1948.  Boys’ and girls’ shower-change rooms were added to the south-west corner of the 1948 addition.  A new library wing was added to the building with the last addition being completed in 1971.

The school always maintained high academic standards and this can be attested to by the large numbers of former students who have made major contributions to society in the professions, as writers, in business, in science, in the arts, and generally contributing to the common good.

 “Education is what’s left after you’ve forgotten everything you learned in school.”