History of B.O.R.C.
Burrlington Outdoor Resource Centre was originally known as Burrlington Schoolhouse1. It is a one-room schoolhouse and was built in 1864 on Kirby Sideroad in Vaughan, Ontario2. William Johnston was the first teacher at the Burrlington Schoolhouse with a class of 20 students, and would teach up to 70 students during his career3.
Aerial photograph of Burrlington Outdoor Resource Centre during the autumn.
Did You Know?
Principals Ralph Brown and Malcolm McRoberts, helped to transform the schoolhouse into an outdoor education center for less than $3000 in 19684. With that money, they were able to buy the equipment needed for students to safely learn outside, including mittens, snowshoes, hip waders, dip nets, galoshes, and other supplies. Principal McRoberts was also able to negotiate an agreement with the Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to use the 65 acres of land beside the schoolhouse for student activities.
“We had to scrape and borrow to get binoculars and microscopes and the outdoor equipment like the hip waders and snowshoes. A lot of it we scrounged for.” - Mac McRoberts
Bill Oliver was the first teacher at B.O.R.C. and helped to develop outdoor learning curriculum and activities5. In 1969, Ron Ritchie and Ann Wasserfall were hired and were helped by the bus driver, Bert Howes. Rosemary Addison became a teacher at B.O.R.C. in 19766.
Mac McRoberts, Rosemary Addison, Ron Ritchie, and Bill Oliver at the 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Burrlington Village in York Region was named after its founder Rowland Burr, while Burlington City in Halton Region was named after Bridlington, England.
1899 – New foundation placed under the school and entire school clad in brick
1918 – School purchased land for $100 from farmer, John Parr, to create a school garden
1928 – New roof installed and a bell tower built
1929 – Flag pole installed
1937 – New fence built around the schoolyard with cement gate posts
1941 – Septic toilets installed
1947 – Electric lighting installed
1954 – Oil furnace replaced the wood stove and new aluminum roof and chimney built
1955 – Flush toilets installed
1997 – Ramp built on the east side of the building to improve accessibility; ramp upgraded in 2013
2005 - Oil furnace replaced by propane
2014 - New metal roof installed and attic insulated; replica bell tower built (but no bell installed)
2015 - Original wooden windows replaced with aluminum windows made in the same style but with stone sills
As of 2020, the schoolhouse located at BORC has stood for 155 years. Over the years, the schoolhouse was upgraded with running water, electricity, front steps, new windows, a flagpole, and an accessibility ramp.7
The BORC Schoolhouse in 2019
During the night time on April 16, 2005, a wildfire started and burned through some of the lands surrounding Burrlington Outdoor Resource Centre8. Fortunately, firefighters were able to contain the fire, but staff had to make sure the areas around the building were safe for activities before allowing students to visit again.
The forest near BORC showing the fire damage.
In January 2017, a construction project close to Burrlington Outdoor Resource Centre accidentally disrupted a natural snake hibernaculum, which provides snakes shelter, warmth, and protection from cold winter temperatures9. The hibernaculum contained 101 snakes of three different species. B.O.R.C. staff worked with the Toronto Wildlife Centre to capture the snakes and relocate them to a man-made snake hibernaculum away from the construction site. The snakes were kept in captivity for five months during the construction, and released in June 2017.
Staff and volunteers from Toronto Wildlife Centre are working to create a new snake hibernaculum near the original site.
1 Newspaper Clipping, Little red school house gets a new lease on life. n.d.
2 Baber Thesis, YRDSB Museum & Archives 019.16.1, 1992
3 Story Walk
4 Woodbridge & Vaughan News, BORC - the outdoor classroom, 1972.
5 Story Walk
6 Rosemary Addison Oral History
7 Story Walk
8 Story Walk
9 Story Walk
Continue to learn about the History of Outdoor Education.