About St. Thomas of Villanova College - (1) Introduction

Lucia Kwag
Oct 13
4 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

St. Thomas of Villanova College is an independent Catholic Augustinian school committed to excellence and dedicated to the education of young people in Canada, since 1999.

Villanova College offers grades 4-12 and the courses are full-year for students.

St. Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

At the heart of St. Thomas of Villanova College is a man whose life continues to inspire students, educators, and communities around the world: St. Thomas of Villanova.

Born in Fuenllana, Spain, in 1488, Thomas García Martínez would eventually become known not just as a brilliant scholar and bishop, but as the “Father of the Poor.” Raised in a deeply religious family, Thomas was known for his love of learning from a young age. He studied and later taught at the prestigious University of Alcalá, excelling in theology and philosophy. But what made him truly remarkable wasn’t just his intellect—it was his heart for others.

Thomas joined the Order of St. Augustine, embracing a life of poverty and community. Despite being offered high-ranking Church positions, he lived simply, often wearing the same worn habit he had entered the order with. His life took a major turn in 1544 when he was appointed Archbishop of Valencia. Though reluctant to accept such an honor, Thomas used his position not for privilege, but for service.

As archbishop, he reformed the clergy, established schools and seminaries, and—most importantly—dedicated himself to the poor. He distributed the Church's wealth to those in need and even gave away his personal belongings. He famously said, “Charity is not just giving, but giving generously.”

Thomas died in 1555, leaving behind a legacy of humility, justice, and love. He was canonized in 1658 and remains a powerful example of what it means to live out the Gospel with action and integrity.

History

In the spring of 1999, twenty-six students were registered in grades 7, 8 and 9. That September, coinciding with 'Secondary School Reform', they began this part of their education in the only fully independent, Catholic school in Ontario, since the mid 1960's.

On September 7, 1999, Villanova College opened its doors in its first temporary home at Sacred Heart Parish Hall in King City.

On Monday, January 24, 2000, the founding classes and families moved into to the 12,000 square foot school on its thirty-three acres at Marylake.

Within three short years the need to begin the construction of a permanent facility was apparent. In September 2002, Phase 1 of the School which included 14 academic classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen and a 10,000 square foot gymnasium was completed. That was followed in 2003 with the completion of Phase 2 of the eventual plan- 14 additional academic classrooms . Today, the School has over 120,000 square feet of academic and athletic space and is home to over 610 students.

📍 Villanova College is currently located at King City, Ontario.

Three Core Values

Villanova College is united, seek truth together, and recognize the goodness in all of God's creation as one community. Thus, three core values that Villanova College seeks are unitas, veritas, and caritas.

Unitas is the formation of a community committed to peace and justice through its academic curriculum and co-curricular activities that work for the common good. The common good represents a commitment to the well-being of others – a solidarity that is essential to all persons living in the community.

Veritas is the pursuit of truth as the community seek to grow in the awareness of God. People are committed to creating an environment that places a priority on the integration of intellectual excellence and the ethical conversions of knowledge and faith.

Caritas is essential for the life of the community. Each person has a dignity and uniqueness that must be protected in the name of the common good.

One Community

Villanova College recognizes that there must be a strong relationship with its community members and recognizes that the "education of young men and women" must be a partnership with the home, the Church and the community at large. It is proud to share the responsibility of educating children with parents, the Church, the Augustinian community across the world, the Board of Governors and to be good and proud citizens of the community of King Township.

Project 2025

Villanova College included a bright and beautiful new dining hall and kitchen, a 330 seat theatre, chapel, specialty classrooms, rehearsal spaces, administrative offices and a new home for the school store. The future is bright at VC and students began to enjoy these new spaces in the start of 2025-2026 school year.

This new build also allows for current spaces to be repurposed. The current Armoury, music classrooms and cafeteria are converted to a physics lab, art studio and classrooms to create specialized spaces and accommodate increasing enrollment.