Below is the full text of the article that ran in the Ottawa Journal on May 3, 1951. Despite the fact that FPHS opened for classes in 1949, the school was not yet completed and the school was not officially opened until 1951. The article - and the image at left - were taken from microfiche and the quality is fairly low.

The caption under the image is:

ONTARIO'S PREMIER CONGRATULATES PROUD OTTAWA PARENTS -- Hon. Leslie M. Frost took time out before formally opening the Fisher Park High School last night to shake hands with Mrs. D.S. Robertson on the achievement of her son, Stuart, being named head boy of the school. Stuart (next to the premier) beams, while Mr. Roberston looks on. -- (Journal Staff Photo)



The Ottawa Journal ; Ottawa, Ont.; Thursday, May 3, 1951 - page 10,

Premier Leslie M. Frost of Ontario not only won the hearts of Fisher Park High School students last night by declaring Friday a holiday but he won great applause when he reminded them it is a, "great thing to be a Canadian and the greatest country in the world is Canada".

The Ontario Premier provided the big moment when he formally opened the magnificent $2,000,000 Fisher Park High School which is named after a former mayor of Ottawa and a distinguished Canadian, the late Harold Fisher, KC. There was a alrge turnout of notables, education leaders and parents of students who all enjoyed the official opening ceremonies which took place in the school auditorium. It was a gala occasion.

Congratulates Mayor

Premier Frost especially had words of praise for the Fisher Park High School Band and the Fisher Park High School Glee Club for their part of the enjoyable program. He congratulated Mayor Goodwin on Ottawa being a city of progress, and a city of unity where two basic races are working in peace and harmony.

After congratulating the Collegiate Board and Advisory Vocational Committee, the architects, contractor, and workmen on their fine achievement in building the new school, Mr. Frost was roundly applauded when he said, "I must also congratulate the taxpayer, the one who makes all these things possible".

The taxpayers of Ottawa were prepared to make sacrifices so that the young people would have equality of opportunity.

Mr. Frost warned that the great material progress and growth, of Ottawa, the province of Ontario and Canada would not be possible without the spirit of the people. He urged that a street or square in Ottawa be named after Col. John By, the founder of the city and the builder of the Rideau Canal, which was a "great engineering feat".

Served With Mr. Atkinson

Ontario's Premier then dealt with progress made since World War I and in this connection remarked he had served overseas with W.D.T. Atkinson, principal of Glebe Collegiate but he had not seen Mr. Atkinson since 1916. Mr. Atkinson smilingly acknowledged the applause.

"Twenty-five cents of every tax dollar in the province of Ontario is spent on education", Mr. Frost continued.

In 1944 a total of $8,000,000 had been spent on school grants. Today $46,000,000 is being spent on school grants and the total amount spent on all education in the province is $63,000,000 a year. Turning to George Drew, MP, "his old leader and premier", Mr. Frost recalled their joint hesitancy in increasing the school grants to an outlay of $25,000,000 a year.

"I was interested to see that Ottawa got its share", he continued. "In 1944 it ran to $130,000 a year. Today it is $769,000 a year."

The Premier in closing asked the students to remember the devotion of people today and the taxpayer in the cause of education, for equality and opportunity.

Others Present.

Mayor Goodwin headed the list of civic dignitaries; L.S. Beattle, Director of Vocational Education for Ontario, came from Toronto with J.A.G. Easton, of the special services branch of the Education Department for the occasion; and Frank Pense, president of the Urban and Rural Trustees' Association, attended from Kingston.

George Drew, MP, George J. McIlraith, MP, Donald Morrow, MLA, Hon. George Dunbar, MLA, were all present while the clergy was represented by Rev. Cecil H. Roach, Rev. Serson Clarke, and Rev. P.C. Harris.

Frank G. Patten, business administrator of the Collegiate Board, introduced the guests after which D.T. Robichaud, chairman of the Collegiate Board, took over. Dwight L. Donaldson, chairman of the special building committee, introduced Mr. Frost, and D. Roy Campbell, chairman of the Advisory Vocational Committee, thanked the Premier for his "fine address".

Praise for Architects.

Special mention was made of the architects J.ALbert Ewart, Dr. A.J. Hazelgrove and Sidney Lithwick while Hugh Doran, president of the Doran Construction Company, builder of the school was roundly praised. Ermenie Smyth, head girl, and Stuart Robinson, head boy of the school, had places on the platform. Principals Arnold, Atkinson, Dunlop, Henry and Speers of Ottawa High Schools, and Principal Proulx of the Eastview High School, and G.F.Rowe, president of the Ottawa local of the Secondary School Teachers Federation, were also honored guests.

Members of the Collegiate Board and the Advisory Vocational Committee on the platform included H.I.Anscombe, D.L. Donaldson, Mrs.H.G.Barber, H.R.Welch, H.S. Highman, G.T. Green, W.E. Haughton KC, R.J. Barnett, A.B. Ullett, Dr. W.C. Macartney, C.E. Lemieux, M.P. Parent, S.F. Dadson, James Warren York, KC and former members.

Frank G. Patten and Harry Pullen took prominent parts in proceedings while others on the platform were R.F. Thompson, Director of Training, Federal Department of Labor, Principal W.B. Wallen of Fisher Park High School, Controller Coulter, Controller McCann and others.

At the conclusion of the ceremony the guests all inspected the school and all went away highly impressed.