Low enrollment leads to cancellation of Don Bosco football program

By News Staff

The Don Bosco Eagles have been sacked. The championship-winning high school football team, made famous by the late Rob Ford, has been cut because of low enrollment.

CityNews has learned the Catholic secondary school located at Dixon Road and Islington Avenue currently has 90 students, in a building that can accommodate over well over 1,000.

Tony Casole, a supply Principal, who has been with the school for two decades, tells CityNews there are only 30 grade 11 students and 60 grade 12 students

“It’s empty. I almost cried. Just to walk and see the halls being empty. It hurts. It’s a low shot,” he said.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board says it’s still trying to figure out why enrollment is so low. According to the TCDSB Senior Communications coordinator John Yan, overall enrollment this year was up by 300 students across the board.

Former Mayor Rob Ford, who died of cancer back in March, was often criticized for skipping important council meetings to coach the team. Ford also used his own money and did extensive fundraising to help fund the football program.

“It’s a shame” said Ford’s brother Doug Ford, “When Rob attracted football players their friends would also come. There was a real team atmosphere, moral was really high there.”

Rob Ford led the team to the Metro Bowl in 2013, a championship that is considered the most prestigious high-school game in the GTA.

Today students have been expressing sadness over the state of their school.

“Our entire high-school experience is going down the drain,” said Ryan Esmond, who’s in his final year.

When we asked students why they thought enrollment was down, they all pointed to a double murder from two years ago. During lunch hour, bullets went flying outside a building close to the high school. Two teens were killed including 17-year-old Zaid Youssef, who was a Don Bosco student.

“That’s why there are no students. No one wants to come here because of the bad press.”

The TCDSB says a board made up of the superintendent, parents and faculty is currently looking into the future of Don Bosco. The report will be made public early in the new year.

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