About Us
Garth Webb Secondary School is an engaged community where students are given opportunities to achieve their potential, inspiring connectedness, creativity and citizenship.
Garth Webb SS values the engagement of all students through a variety of programs, opportunities and learning experiences. A respect for diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all students and staff is at the core of our values as a community.
Every student's journey to achieving success is different, and Garth Webb SS acknowledges the importance of an individual's identity and pathway in the pursuit of personal growth and achievement. We offer students a wide range of academics, cocurriculars, pathways, programs and community support to help them carve their own path to greatness.
By implementing teaching methods that focus on blending creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, our students are taught to approach challenges with an innovative mindset to prepare them to enter the ever-changing world of post-secondary.
About Garth Webb
Lt. GARTH S. WEBB M. S. C. (Ret.'d)
In 1995, D-Day Veteran Garth Webb, who served in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Artillery, conceived the idea of the Juno Beach Centre, an education centre and memorial to all who served Canada during the Second World War. Unselfishly, Mr. Webb mounted a nation-wide campaign to raise the $12.1 M to build the Centre.
In so doing, he ensured Canadians became more aware and appreciative of the sacrifices made during this period of our Nation’s history to preserve the privileges we enjoy today. After eight years of perseverance, and, in spite of the many obstacles in his path, Mr. Webb’s leadership and tenacity led to his dream being realized on June 6, 2003 with the Official Opening of the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-mer, Normandy, France. As a result, Canada’s past presence is not only felt, but also preserved and seen as tangible evidence of our Nation’s sacrifice and pride in its contributions and accomplishments from 1939-1945. Further, the Juno Beach Centre has been a catalyst for renewed nation-wide interest in the sacrifices of our Veterans.
Garth’s work was based, not on personal recognition, but upon his undying, unwavering loyalty to his Comrades and fellow Veterans. While honouring them at the Centre, Mr. Webb also envisioned the Centre as a significant educational resource for generations of Canadian youth to learn about Canadians’ contributions to the victory that ensured our freedom. To date, 475 Canadian school groups comprising about 17,500 students have made the pilgrimage to the Juno Beach Centre. Further, tens of thousands of yearly international visitors gain the same insights through their experiences at the Centre.
With a focus on education and in his role as President of the Juno Beach Centre Association, Mr. Webb had facilitated more than 125 teachers of Canadian history to attend annual Battlefield Tours to France to enhance their understanding and knowledge of our Nation’s participation and contributions to freedom. By sharing this first-hand experience with their students, classroom programs were able to become more relevant, meaningful and personal. Garth Webb demonstrated qualities of leadership, patriotism, loyalty and humility. He possessed a unique ability to unify our country to achieving a common goal of building such a wonderful Centre.
Today, the Juno Beach Centre stands as the only place serving both as an education centre and memorial to those who served Canada during the Second World War. Its existence is directly attributable to Mr. Webb and his determination. His outstanding, singular accomplishment ranks him among Canada’s great citizens.