About St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure Catholic School is named after one of the first great scholastic thinkers of Christianity. Bonaventure was born in Italy and lived from 1217 to 1274. He entered the Franciscan order as a simple Friar around 1234 and began his studies at the University of Paris. Over the years, Bonaventure became an outstanding lecturer, philosopher, theologian and doctor of the church. In 1273, Pope Gregory named Bonaventure as a Cardinal. Bonaventure died suddenly in 1274 while preparing material for the second council of Lyons. His feast is celebrated on July 14.

St. Bonaventure Catholic School opened in January 1957 as an eight-classroom school. The first class graduated from Grade 8 in 1957. Among the graduates that first year were David Collins (who would later become pastor at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church) and Eileen Kearney (who, today, teaches at our school).

Did you know that the trees, which line the front of the school, were hand-planted by our first principal, Mr. Joe O’Connell?

As the Don Mills community developed, and the school population increased, the need for more space became apparent. In 1962, an additional seven classrooms and a library were built. A second addition, containing a gymnasium, change rooms and a stage, was built in 1969.

The school has, over the years, established strong ties with the church of the same name and with the community at large. Students presently enrolled in our school, have parents who are former school graduates. There are families that have grandchildren attending St. Bonaventure Catholic School, tradition and family ties are important aspects of life.