Mayberry Place

Dean of Ontario principals

Mayberry Place was named in 1966 after Charles Alexander (Cam) Mayberry (1856-1938), principal of the Stratford Collegiate for 37 years, from 1890 until his retirement in 1927. 

Said the Beacon-Herald, he was "the dean of all collegiate institute principals in Ontario." He was retiring "after a lifetime of service devoted to the educational interests of this city and the province."

The Stratford Board of Education, in recognition of the contribution made by Mr. Mayberry "and as compensation for his years of service, unanimously agreed to a pension of superannuation of $1,500 per year."

The Beacon-Herald said, "Almost like a bolt from the blue will thousands of citizens and former students receive Mr. Mayberry's decision to retire from the position in which he has so long been honored and esteemed. It came in the nature of a complete surprise. With it came the realization that at last the board was to lose a great teacher and the man, who, respected and honored by all, had carried throughout each succeeding year the responsibility that the position of principal entailed. "

Board chairman Harry Wigglesworth paid tribute to the man who for 37 years had guided the destinies of the Collegiate Institute. "Just 45 years ago Mr. Mayberry came to Stratford, fresh from college, strong, virile enthusiastic about his work. Forty-five years have passed and in that intervening space of time hundreds of boys and girls have gone from the Stratford Collegiate Institute. Throughout it all, Mr. Mayberry has remained an inspiring teacher, a sincere friend to all who knew him, a wise counsellor and a just administrator."

One of his outstanding students was John Cunningham McLennan (see William Street), in his day recognized as one of the greatest scientists in the world. A physicist, McLennan (1867-1935) was knighted in the same year he died. Another of Mayberry's distinguished students was Agnes Macphail (see below), who in 1921 became Canada's first female member of Parliament.

Agnes Macphail, first female member of Parliament

Agnes Campbell Macphail (March 24, 1890 – Feb. 13, 1954) was an Ontario politician who became Canada's first female member of Parliament. She was first elected to the House of Commons in 1921, the same year in which women were allowed to vote in Canada. She served as an MP until 1940, then moved to provincial politics. From 1943 to 1945 and from 1948 to 1951, she was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the Toronto riding of York East. Active throughout her life in progressive Canadian politics, she worked for two parties and, through opinion column, activist organizing, and legislation, she promoted her ideas about equality, equal pay and social reform for ordinary people.

Macphail was born in 1890 and lived in a log house with her parents and siblings in Proton Township in Grey County. She completed four years of study in two at Owen Sound Collegiate. Though she did well, she transferred to Stratford for her final year of high school (senior matriculation). She then attended Stratford Normal School (see Water Street) in 1909-1910 so she could complete her studies to be an elementary school teacher. While in Stratford, she boarded with her Aunt Maggie and Uncle Dan McGregor on Brunswick Street.

Her family name, originally spelled McPhail, appeared in the school normal school yearbook as McFhail, as reported by Dean Robinson in his 2011 book, Hardly Normal, The Stratford Normal School and Stratford Teachers College 1908-1973.