Thistletown's first school, made of one frame schoolhouse was opened in 1874 on the east side of Islington Av., just south of Albion Rd. but was moved eastward to Village Green in 1901. Over the last century the school was expanded to reflect the growth in the village and a new building was built in 1947 and the school was renamed to Thistletown Middle School. Since closing in 1985, it became the Thistletown Multi-Service Centre and now houses a daycare, a seniors centre, and Parks and Recreation programs, as well as a number of community agencies. In need for a high school in Thistletown, construction of the school began in 1956, and its first students were admitted in September 1957 as Etobicoke’s seventh secondary school. The school building, designed by Gordon Adamson Architects, was inspired by a similar one found in Switzerland. The late 1960s witnessed a notable expansion, mainly of technical and vocational facilities. Thistletown has a very diverse student population and its students have consistently performed adequately in both athletic and academic endeavours. Thistletown C.I. offers many resources to its students, from a free daily breakfast programme that started in 2008 to multiple after-school clubs, and an in school police officer. Thistletown C.I. has also launched its well-known charity event "Cuts for Cancer" where students donate and shave their hair in efforts to raise cancer awareness. This event has raised on average of $2500/year in donations to the Canadian Cancer Society. Other student philanthropy initiatives include the annual World Vision30 Hours of Famine, the UNICEF CN Tower Climb, and Red Cross Relief Efforts. Outside of school hours, Thistletown C.I. is the location of 700 David Hornell V.C. Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets for its Squardron Training Night.
Campus
Thistletown Collegiate is a white-bricked, two-storey secondary school on a 14.5 acre campus containing 34 composite classrooms, four science labs, a home economics room, three arts rooms, a library, guidance offices, three gymnasiums, seven vocational and technical shops, a cafeteria with a professional kitchen, and a curved auditorium. The layout and architecture is unique as the main entrance is located on the second level with a hill-like landscape oriented towards east to Islington Avenue. Similar to all other schools in the former city of Etobicoke, the auditorium is located west of the school. Lockers are colored with the accent tones of red, black and white. It has 8 fire exits.
Athletics
In 2009 Thistletown C.I. started its football program up with a very successful season. They were crowned champions in 2015, primarily due to not letting a single touchdown occur. They won for a consecutive time in 2016. In 2005 Thistletown C.I.'s varsity hockey team won the city championship and the year before they went undefeated all season. Athletic triumphs include the Etobicoke senior football championship, earned in 1969 by defeating the Etobicoke H.S. Rams, led by John Villiers, Al Thomas, John Griffin. The senior basketball team reached the T.D.I.A.A. finals in 1972 and 1975, only to suffer defeat at the hands of the George Harvey Hawks. Prominent contributors from that era include Edgar Jaunzarins, Steve and Ross Quackenbush, Trevor Bennett, and Ken King.
Extra-curricular
List of Clubs/Activities: Student Council, TCI Ambassadors, Thistletown Athletic Council, Equity Club, Programming Club, Exercise to Success Program, Homework Club, Empowered Student Partnership, Environmental Council, Intramural Sports, Rainbow Club, Drama Club, Chess Club, Science & Tech. Club, Robotics, African History Committee, Muslim Student Association, Asian History Club Committee, Multicultural Week Committee & TCI Alumni.
