Wagar High School


Wagar High School was a high school at 5785 Parkhaven Avenue in Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, Canada.
It opened its doors in 1963 as part of the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal and closed in 2005 as part of the English Montreal School Board.
At its peak in the mid-70s, Wagar's population topped out at over 1,700 students, despite its having been built to accommodate 1,100.
The school was named after Roy Wagar, a school board official. Wagar died during his speech at Monkland High School's graduation ceremony just a year before Wagar High School opened its doors.
Over many years, particularly in the 70s, Wagar High School enjoyed a reputation for high academic achievement, consistently scoring at the top of the provincial rankings, and regularly eclipsing teams from rival high schools such as West Hill, Mount Royal, Loyola, Father MacDonald and others, in the CBC Television quiz show "Reach For The Top".
After years of declining enrollment, Wagar High School was closed in 2005. The Wagar building was renamed The Giovanni Palatucci Facility on May 16, 2006, after a World War II hero who risked and eventually gave his life to save 5000 Jews. This was especially fitting because of the large percentage of Jewish students at Wagar during most of its history.
The school board is attempting to reopen the high school for the 2011-12 school year, as a sports specialty school.
Wallenberg Academy is the name the English Montreal School Board has chosen for its proposed new high school in Côte St. Luc. The name honours the memory of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who is credited with saving up to 100,000 Jews during the Holocaust while serving in Budapest, Hungary.
Wallenberg Academy is scheduled to begin operations for the 2014-2015 academic year, provided at least 60 students are enrolled by next fall.

Notable alumni