Cyril Frederick Washington

Cyril Frederick Washington was a student at Trinity College from 1920-1924/5. Washington was born in Canterbury, England on February 2nd 1902, the only child of Edith Margaret and Henry Robert Washington. The family immigrated to Canada in 1903 and settled in Russell, Ontario, near Ottawa. Washington attended Ottawa CI for high school, and entered Trinity College at age 18.

Throughout his life, Washington showed a passion for classics. As an undergraduate, he studied languages and classics, although he was also heavily involved in College life. He was head of his year (1920-1923), and served as President of the Trinity Literary Institute in its 1923-1924 year. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in 1924, and was Valedictorian of the University. In 1926, he attended the Ontario College of Education. He married Jean Frances Malcolm (1905-1973), a teacher from Stratford, on July 1st, 1932.

Washington served as principal of Walkerton District High School from 1935 – 1962, where he also taught classics. As principal, he lead the school through restructuring of school districts, and oversaw the transition to a larger, modern building in order to accommodate the new generation of baby boomers in the early 1950s.

Washington was president of the Ontario Classics Association from 1952-1954, the first secondary school educator to do so. The OCA promotes the teaching of classic civilizations and languages in Ontario, Coincidentally the OCA shares a long history with Trinity College, starting from its inaugural 1944 meeting held in a Trinity boardroom.

Washington passed away in 1964, and was buried in the Walkerton Cemetery, Bruce County, Ontario.

2020/05/12

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