John G. Diefenbaker High School

John G. Diefenbaker High School is a senior public high school located at 6620 4th Street N.W., Panorama Hills, Calgary, Alberta. The school is named after the 13th Prime Minister of Canada Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker. The school is part of the Calgary Board of Education. The school graduates around 400 Grade 12 students every year, with a 91% graduation rate. As of June 2020, there are currently 1405 students.[2]

John G. Diefenbaker High School
Location
Calgary
,
Alberta

Canada
Coordinates51.1127°N 114.0700°W / 51.1127; -114.0700
Information
TypePublic
MottoFreedom, Choice, Responsibility
Established1971
School boardCalgary Board of Education
PrincipalMichael Bester
Grades10, 11, 12
Enrollment1451[1] (as of 2019)
 • Grade 10465
 • Grade 11477
 • Grade 12509
CampusUrban
Colour(s)Blue and White   
MascotChiefs
Communities servedBeddington Heights, Harvest Hills, Huntington Hills, Panorama Hills, Thorncliffe
Feeder schoolsColonel Irvine Jr. High, Georges P. Vanier Jr. High, Sir John A. Macdonald Jr. High, Captain Nichola Goddard Jr. High, Balmoral Middle School
Websiteschools.cbe.ab.ca/b860/

Academics

As one of the five International Baccalaureate high schools in Calgary, John G. Diefenbaker High School is well known for its academic programs. On the Provincial Diplomas, John G. Diefenbaker performs well and is in the top five High Schools in the CBE.[3]

Clubs
Competitive Service Interests
  • Student Council (Leadership)
  • Diefenbaker News (Dief Days)
  • Yearbook
  • Youth Volunteer Corps
  • Salvation Army
  • MAC Africa
  • Charity Dance Silent Auction
  • Environmental Club (Green Chiefs)

Athletics

Diefenbaker is a highly involved and athletic high school. They are well known for their badminton, and wrestling programs. John G. Diefenbaker Senior High Schools' wrestling team is among the best in Alberta, having won seven city championships as well as five Provincial titles. Its wrestling team was also the top ranked High School team in Canada in 2007, 2008 & 2009 according to the Canadian National Wrestling Association, having a large number of its members compete and obtain medals at the National Championships. In 2008 they set a Calgary record with 120 points in the city championships. In addition, Diefenbaker has won city championships in girls' rugby, badminton, and in 2011 the girls field hockey took the division 1 city championship against Western Canada beating them 1-0 in overtime. Diefenbaker was also able to capture the DIV 3 city championship for SR boys volleyball in 2015-2016 and the DIV 3 city championship for SR girls basketball in 2017-2018. [4]

Music program

Diefenbaker High School's music program is quite large, and among the best in Calgary. The Band program consists of the Concert Band, and Jazz 1 and 2 Bands. Mr. Rod Pauls was the Director of Bands in the school until 2010. In 2010–2011 school year, Mr. Kenneth Thackrey started as the Director of Bands. His first concert with the school was on November 24, 2010.

The Choir program has gained recognition from music festivals within Calgary, in addition to individual workshop leaders from across the continent. The program consists of a Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Vocal Jazz. Mr. Laurie Schwartz is the Director of Choirs.[5]

The Music Department holds two annual public concerts: one in the fall and one in the spring.

Notable alumni
  • Danielle Smith – politician, former leader of the Wildrose Party of Alberta
  • Ryan Radmanovich – professional baseball player, played with the Seattle Mariners
  • Jeff Zimmerman – professional baseball player, played with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, MLB All-Star 1999
  • Chris Gailus – television news anchor
  • Eden Full – inventor of the SunSaluter, solar technology researcher
  • Jessie Foster – international endangered missing person and victim of human trafficking. Jessie graduated from JGD in 2002, was lured to the US in 2005 and has been missing since 2006. Jessie is Canada's 'Poster-Child' for this crime.
  • Lights (musician) – Canadian musician
  • Mike Green – professional ice hockey player, currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings.
  • Cam Sterns - Olympic Water Polo athlete. Competed in 2012 Olympics.

Other information
  • Diefenbaker is situated next to Sir John A. Macdonald Jr. High School, St. Helena Jr. High School (Catholic School Division) and Thorncliffe Pool/Library/Arena complex and stopped offering grade 9 education after 1983.
  • Diefenbaker's music band program is among the best in the city.
  • The Youth Volunteer Corps program at Diefenbaker is the largest high school club in the city, run by the dedicated International Baccalaureate students in the school.
  • Diefenbaker's MAC (make a change) Africa club fosters support and financial aid towards global education. This in collaboration with the Ugandan Girls Scholarship Foundation.
  • The school is part of the Action for Bright Children Society[6]
  • The school is 49 years old, as of 2020.

References
  1. https://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/find-a-school/_layouts/15/cbe.service.spm/viewprofile.aspx?id=182
  2. https://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/find-a-school/_layouts/15/cbe.service.spm/viewprofile.aspx?id=182
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2009-12-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. http://www.calgaryhighschoolsports.com/league.php?scriptName=HOME&leagueID=5449
  5. Westwinds Music Society Archived 2008-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. http://www.abccalgary.com/schools.html
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