Lisgarwrite - Lisgar Collegiate Institute

Sibling Rivalry::
Lisgarwrite
A Short History of Two Collegiates
L
isgar Collegiate has a proud history of being
one of the most well-recognized high schools in
the city. It has always encouraged excellence
among its students and staff. In 1993, to celebrate
Lisgar’s 150 th Anniversary, Mayor Jacquelin Holzman
wrote: “the Institution has always maintained an
unrivalled reputation as one of the finest educational
institutions of the region.” Perhaps this history is wellearned,
but Lisgar students have always shown
animosity towards a sister school. Most don’t even
know why.
By: Henry Schut
been so smart - little did they know they had been
outwitted! When they made for their ‘getaway car’ with
the Lisgar lads hot on their heels, they were astonished
to find that their trusty vehicle would not start. Only
after they had gone slinking down the street with their
tails between their legs did we discover the reason for
this technical difficulty. The distributor cap had
mysteriously disappeared.
VS.
Glebe Collegiate, which was founded in 1923,
has also kept up a tradition of excellence. There is no
question about the quality of education received at
either school, so what could possibly be the reason for
this competition Glebe Collegiate was originally
created as an expansion to Lisgar, which was then called
the Ottawa Collegiate Institute, due to an increase in
the student population. Indeed, Glebe was once
referred to as the Ottawa Collegiate Glebe Building,
with these names still adorning both schools to this day.
Concerning the championship Glebe vs. Lisgar
hockey game, the 1925 edition of the Vox Lycei states
that “the main interest lay in the rivalry between
(them).” A Glebe prank gone awry is documented in this
Lisgar anecdote from 1972: A carload of Glebe
Collegiate Senior Boys arrived “en masse” to attack the
hallowed halls of Lisgar! While they were inside playing
their pranks, our boys, led by Ian MacKenzie carried out
their tasks at hand. Those Glebe guys thought they had
During a tense Lisgar/Glebe clubs day in the
Glebe cafeteria, another incident took place. Over the
course of the meal, the students could not miss the
opportunity for the food fight that ensued. Even to this
day, the schools still pride themselves in their historic
competition.
The reason for this almost 90-year-old rivalry
remains uncertain. It most likely stems from the many
Ottawa Collegiate students that were moved to the
Glebe building in the early 1920s, sparking a friendly
contest between those who left and those who
remained.
Today, although the pranks have long gone, the
sense of school spirit remains in both collegiates. It is
almost certain that the competitive atmosphere set
down by OCI pupils so many years ago will continue to
drive Lisgar and Glebe students to championships and
awards in academics, athletics, or the arts.