Ontario. Training Schools Advisory Board

• Training Schools Advisory Board

• Ontario. Industrial Schools Advisory Board

• Ontario. Industrial and Training Schools Advisory Board

The Training Schools Advisory Board was established in 1931, and was initially known as the Industrial Schools Advisory Board. In 1937 it became known as the Industrial and Training Schools Advisory Board, and in 1939 as the Training Schools Advisory Board. It retained this name until 1986, although the term "Training Schools" was discontinued in 1967.

The Board's five members were appointed by Order in Council and acted in an advisory capacity to the governing Minister regarding the state of the training schools and the welfare of their wards.

The Board evaluated the plans made for each youngster for his placement from the school, and in turn made a recommendation to the Minister. In the course of this evaluation, the Board took into account the ward's history prior to his admission to training school, his social and educational adjustment in the school, and the placement to which he would graduate.

Wardship of a student may continue until his eighteenth birthday; however, the Board, in considering each case, could make a recommendation to the Minister for termination of wardship before that age. Members of this Board visit the schools on a regular basis and report to the Minister on the over-all aspects of each school and on their evaluation of its program.

In 1977, responsibility for youth corrections was transferred to the Ministry of Community and Social Services. However, in 1984, responsibility for custody of young offenders reverted back to the Ministry of Correctional Services, while remaining programs for youth remained with Community and Social Services.

Most of the earlier minutes and agendas for the Board will be found in Ministry of Correctional Services series RG 20-149 (Training School Advisory Board Files). Starting about 1925, the later records will be found in RG 60-1 (Training Schools Advisory Board minutes and agendas) and RG 60-2 (Training Schools Advisory Board admission registers). The Board's "Ward Files - Main Office" been artificially separated into series RG 60-4 through RG 60-12 for convenience in identifying the records of individual training schools.

Be aware also that the Board often moved wards between a number of different schools, which is reflected in their file numbers. For example, file "A3269GU" which refers to a ward originally admitted to the St. Joseph's Training School in ("A" for) Alfred, Ontario, who was subsequently moved to the Hillcrest School Training School in ("G" for) Guelph.

The Training Schools Advisory Board reviewed reports received by training schools to measure their progress in training wards, and on placement of wards. The board also made recommendations for placement and termination of wardship.

Industrial Schools Act, Statutes of Ontario, 1931, Chap. 73.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Ontario Government Telephone Directories, 1965-1986.

Annual Reports of the Department of Reform Institutions, 1946-1968.

Inventory for Children's and Youth Corrections, Archives of Ontario (Inventory 60).

Not found in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24.

Archivist(s):
Bob Krawczyk; Robert Anger