Villanova College (Canada)

Villanova College is a high school and middle school in King City, Ontario, Canada. Established by lay educators Paul Paradiso and Grant Purdy with the blessing of the Archdiocese Toronto and in cooperation with the Order of Saint Augustine's friars of Toronto and Marylake Augustinian Monastery. The school campus is within the grounds of this Augustinian monastic foundation in King City. Villanova College offers grades four to twelve and is the first, and only, Canadian institution to become a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association. It is a privately operated independent school, officially sponsored by the Augustinian Order.[1]

Villanova College
Address
Map
2480 15th Sideroad

, ,
Canada
Coordinates43°56′46″N 79°32′26″W / 43.94611°N 79.54056°W / 43.94611; -79.54056
Information
School typeHigh and Middle school
MottoUnitas, Veritas, Caritas
(Unity, Truth, Love)
Religious affiliation(s)Catholic
Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian Secondary Education Association
Founded1999
School boardIndependent School
PresidentPaul Paradiso
Grades4-12
Enrollment~610 students
LanguageEnglish & French & Spanish
Colour(s)    Silver and navy blue
Athletics conferenceConference of Independent Schools of Ontario
MascotKnightro
Team nameKnights
Websitewww.villanovacollege.org
Last updated: June 6, 2019

Villanova College is York Region's only independent Catholic school. It offers STEM and AP programs as well as arts, athletic, social outreach and leadership experiences.[2]

Patron Saint

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The college is named in honour of St. Thomas of Villanova, a sixteenth-century Spanish Augustinian. Thomas was born in the province of Ciudad Real in 1488, and was raised in Villanueva de los Infantes, a nearby town; hence his name, Thomas of Villanova. In the year 1544, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V appointed Thomas as Archbishop of Valencia. Thomas succeeded in the spiritual renewal of his diocese, and gained the title "Father of the Poor". He gave two-thirds of the income of his diocese to care for the poor in various ways. Each day up to 5 poor people came to his door to be fed and to receive money.[3]

Other English speaking Augustinian Colleges named for this saint are Villanova College, located in Brisbane, Australia, and Villanova Preparatory School in California, United States. He is also the patron saint for Villanova University, a Catholic university located in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Providing Education in Augustinian Schools: Stewardship Update". Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel of the Augustinian Order. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Villanova College". www.villanovacollege.org. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  3. ^ Taylor, Thomas. "St. Thomas of Villanova". Midwest Augustinians. Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
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