Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, North York, ON

Throughout the 1980s the Metropolitan Separate School Board (now the Toronto Catholic District School Board) considered establishing a school for the Performing Arts. It was felt that all students with clearly identified talents in the arts regardless of their socio-economic status, race or cultural background, should have the opportunity to develop those talents within the TCDSB system. Therefore with the commitment and interest of parents and students, the first set of auditions were held in January 1990. Five hundred applications were processed for 250 positions and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts opened its doors to grade 7, 8 and 9 students in September 1990. The school was named after Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter, Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Toronto from 1978 to 1990, a strong supporter of education and a distinguished patron of the arts. CCAA is a Catholic school community built upon Gospel values and the love of learning.