Webber Academy

Webber Academy
Webber Academiae
Address
Map
1515 – 93rd Street, S.W.

Calgary

Calgary
,
Alberta
,
T3H 4A8

Canada
Coordinates51°02′41″N 114°13′34″W / 51.0446°N 114.2261°W / 51.0446; -114.2261
Information
School typePrivate
MottoParantibus Alumni Universitatis convalescunt et ultra
(Preparing Students to Thrive in University and Beyond)
Founded1997
FounderDr. Neil Webber
CEEB code820242
PresidentNeil Webber
ChairmanLorne Webber
PrincipalPaul Sutherland, Head of Elementary School
PrincipalChristina Clouston, Head of Senior School
Campus DirectorLorne Webber
I.T ManagerRoy Lee
GradesJK-12
Years offeredJK-12
Enrollment1,017
Average class size21
Student to teacher ratio1:20
Education systemFull year
Classes offeredMath, AP Calculus, AP English Literature, AP English Language, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Statistics, AP European History, AP World History, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Art, AP Art, Drama, Computer Applications, Physical Education, Computer Programming
LanguageEnglish
Classrooms~40
Campus size47 acres
Houses4
Colour(s)     
Slogan"Preparing students to thrive in university and beyond."
MascotWiley the Wildcat
PublicationVoices Magazine
School fees15,500 baseline fee
Websitewww.webberacademy.ca

Webber Academy is a non-denominational, co-educational, university preparatory, private school located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Webber Academy offers academics spanning from junior kindergarten through grade 12. It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Neil Webber, a former teacher and professor at Mount Royal University, who also served as an Alberta Cabinet Minister in the Hon. Peter Lougheed and Hon. Don Getty governments.[1]

The campus consists of a junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten facility, a main building with elementary and senior school wings, third floor science centre, two full-size gymnasiums, an outdoor sports court, several playgrounds and a 400-meter running track. The school is situated on a 47-acre campus in southwest Calgary, currently home to 977 students (as of Oct 2016). Recently, an arts centre was built for the drama and music programmes, and its 500-seat theatre and dressing rooms can be rented out for public events.

Criticism

In 2012, two Muslim students were denied the right to privately pray on campus grounds.[2] The students continued to conduct their prayers outside the building, but were repeatedly interrupted and questioned by campus staff.[2] After a filed complaint, a human rights tribunal decided that "despite [Webber]'s specifically stated goal of making people of all religious backgrounds feel welcome, its actions, objectively viewed, were not welcoming." Webber Academy refused to re-enroll the students the following school year, and the students were awarded $26,000 in damages by the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 2015.[3][4]

In 2018, Alberta Education discontinued an online resource that included a question regarding positive effects of residential schools.[5] Neil Webber, president of the academy, noted that "[Webber's Staff] want our teachers to discuss both positive and negative aspects of [residential schools]." In the same interview, Webber also mentioned "Whether it's slavery in the U.S. or Canada's relationship with Iraq or Iran, I think...you need to consider both the positive and negative benefits.[6]"

References

  1. ^ "Calgary private schools report spike in enrolment as back-to-school looms | CBC News".
  2. ^ a b "Webber Academy ordered to pay damages to 2 Muslim students over denying prayer at school". CBC.
  3. ^ Dryden, John. "Commission rules in favour of 2 Muslim students who wanted prayer at private school". CBC.
  4. ^ Webber Academy Foundation v Alberta (Human Rights Commission), 2016 ABQB 194 (Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta 2016).
  5. ^ Huncar, Andrea (September 21, 2018). "'Offensive' online test about Indigenous Canadians symptom of larger problem in Alberta schools, say advocates". CBC.
  6. ^ Leavitt, Kieran (2018-09-24). "Alberta private school sees merit in asking about 'positive effects' of residential schools". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-03-11.


Stub icon

This Alberta school-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.