Lower Canada College (LCC) is an English-language elementary and secondary level independent school located in Montreal, Quebec. It is located in the Monkland Village area of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. The school offers education from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Students graduate from Grade 11 and then have the option of leaving the school and going to a Pre-University college (unique to the Quebec system) or returning to LCC for the Pre-University year. LCC's traditional rival in sports and other matters is Selwyn House School.[2]
History
Lower Canada College was opened on Royal Avenue by Dr. Charles Fosbery on September 20, 1909.[3] LCC can trace its roots to 1861, when the boarding school St. John's School was started by the Church of St John the Evangelist.
In 1992, LCC added enrolment for female students to their pre-university program, and the school has been co-educatational at all levels since September, 1995.[4] Today, approximately 50% of the student population is female.[4]
Each student from levels K-11 is placed in one of eight houses, named after alumni.[5] There is also a special house designated for pre-university students.[6] The houses, along with their associated colours are:
Beveridge (Orange)
Claxton (Red)
Drummond (White)
French (Blue)
Harper (Green)
Heward (Black)
Russel (Grey)
Woods (Maroon)
Webster (Purple, pre-university house)
Throughout the school year, students compete in friendly inter-school competitions to earn house points, including pep rallies and raising funds for food drives and toy drives.[7]
It is an annual tradition for the eight principal houses to engage in "Shourawe", a spirited day dedicated to inter-house competitions such as Tug of war.[5] Prior to 2008, this day was known as "House Wars".[8] However, the term's barbaric connotations evoked backlash, prompting the school to adopt a less belligerent anagram. Conversely, the Tug of war event has yet to be renamed.[9]
Admissions
As of 2013[update] LCC receives subsidies from the provincial government and therefore abides by the French Language Charter, restricting enrolment of students to eligible parties specified in the charter.[10]
The annual tuition fees for attending LCC range from $18,695 to $23,845. International students in high school also have to pay an additional $4,771 to cover the grant the school receives for local students.[11] The school receives subsidies from the provincial government that is available to all private schools for Grades 7 to 11, which means all students in the high school section must have a certificate of eligibility allowing them to attend government-funded English schools in Quebec in accordance with Bill 101. Students without the certificate can attend the non-subsidized elementary school section and qualify for the certificate after three years as long as they and any siblings have never previously attended a French school.[12][13][14]