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About Us
Since 1958, Neil McNeil has been committed to making a difference in the lives of the young men who pass through its doors. Through its programing, both curricular and co-curricular, a distinct Catholic dimension is evident. Our core values are reflected in Neil's commitment to provide a safe and secure environment where learning can take place within a diverse and varied student population.
Neil McNeil is constantly adapting to provide a comprehensive and current course of study. As a school community, we have a common goal to provide our students with the education that will best equip them to live successfully and responsibly in a complex and changing world.
Mission Statement
Neil McNeil High School, founded in 1958 by members of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, the Spiritans, is a publicly-funded Catholic boys' school dedicated to the education of young men.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, Neil McNeil High School aspires to foster excellence in the development of the whole person through a comprehensive educational experience in the Spiritan tradition. Within a safe and supportive community that follows the school's motto Fidelitas in Arduis, we strive to cultivate a brotherhood in which every student has the opportunity to achieve their potential and to use their gifts to serve others.
School History and Tradition
Neil McNeil High School was founded in 1958 by the members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritan Fathers). The school was named after Neil McNeil, Archbishop of Toronto from 1912-1934. During his entire term as Archbishop, he fought tirelessly for the extension of funding for Catholic secondary schools. He demonstrated in words and deeds the school motto “Fidelitas in Arduis”, which translates to “strength in hard times”.
Even though the last priest-principal of the school retired in 1990, the Spiritan presence is alive and well through the Spiritan Scholarship Fund established in 1995. By 1998, the fund disbursed more than $50,000 in scholarship awards for students going to university or community college.
Perhaps the spirit of Neil McNeil was best summarized by our most famous graduate, the late John Candy, who said during one of his annual visits to Neil McNeil, “My success is simply rooted in the values and discipline and respect for others that I was taught at Neil McNeil.”