Holmwood Toronto Chapter

How We Started..

In the spring of 1987, a group of Holmwood past students met at the residence of the late past principal, Mr Winston B. Johnson. A steering committee was formed.

During the interim and up to July 1988 time was spent contacting as many past students as was possible. The concentration was on those who resided in and around Toronto. As the group became larger, many meetings were held in various locations. This was where discussions were based mainly about formulating a constitution for the Holmwood Past Students’ Association (Toronto Chapter).

Noting the excitement and enthusiasm among the group, and after many, many meetings, the inaugural meeting for the Holmwood Past Students’ Association (Toronto Chapter) was held on July 10, 1988.

At that time the elected officers serving on the executive were:

President: Dr. Paul Clarke

Vice President: Barbara (Blake) Bitter

Secretary: Ruth Atkins

Treasurer: Janet Miller

Sports Director: Aitchman (Henry) Houstan

Public Relations: John Robinson

Social Director: Owen Donaldson

Ex Officio: Renford Bailey

Member At Large: Lincoln Morant

From this humble start in 1987/88, the association over the years has continued its growth under the leadership of first, Dr. Paul Clarke, followed by Alric Salmon. Both of them have been assisted in this building/growth process by a most capable group of past students. This group consists of a good blend of graduates from all three facets of Holmwood’s existence, Practical Training Centre, Rural Secondary Technical School, and Technical High School. Here are the names of a few who have served continuously with both presidents over the years. They are: Janette Keene, Henry Houstan, Barbara Bitter, Francis Lyn-Cook, Michael Leslie, John Robinson and Renford Bailey.

The past twenty five years have been very good ones in terms of our accomplishments and contribution to the school Holmwood and to the Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations here in Toronto. These have included among other things , the awarding of scholarships, equipping of computer labs, assisting in the furnishing of the Home Economics department, and uniforms for various Sports teams.Given bursaries to the Graduates Program.We have also sponsored a student to the Emerging Global Leaders Program at York University.