Richard de Candole has worked in British Columbia and Alberta as a reporter and editor for over 40 years. Toughest School in North America is about his five years as a student at St. John’s Cathedral Boys’ School in Selkirk, Manitoba from 1962 to 1968. A unique BC voice, Richard lives with his wife Wendy in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia. Buy the book exclusively through Amazon.
What people are saying . . .
Richard de Candole’s account of the St. John’s Cathedral Boys’ School (SJCBS) richly justifies its title as the “Toughest School In North America.” And he should know. De Candole attended the private, Selkirk, Manitoba-based school from 1962 to 1968. The school was not for everyone, especially for baby boomers coming of age in the freewheeling sixties. But those who endured the rigorous academics, the relentless Anglican catechizing and the epic summer canoes trips on the wild rivers of the historic Canadian fur trade arguably received a better education than a whole generation of students enrolled in the increasingly lax and undemanding curriculum of the public-school systems.
D’Arcy Jenish, author of The NHL: 100 Years of On-Ice Action, The Montreal Canadiens and Epic Wanderer: Biography of map-maker David Thompson
I am in a unique position compared to most people. The years covered in the book represent a small slice of my time with St. John’s and as a result had a far less impact on me compared to later experiences that both had great joy and great pain. I appreciated the description of his experiences and adventure, mixed with the reality of the situation. Many of the chapters brought back memories but I was surprised either how much I forgot or simply never knew.
Peter Jackson, former SJCBS student & former headmaster of St John’s School of Alberta
What an amazing school! I attended the school between 1978 and 1983. The book rekindles many memories and is a great description of why the school is known as the Toughest School in North America.
Marc Dube, former student of SJCBS
I attended in 76-78. If I don’t talk to other students who went there no one believes what we did. I show the NFB New Boy video to my students every year and they are shocked!
I was #161 from 1970 _72 Too much damage was done.
Abuse cannot be glorified.
Perma ent .ental physical damage. Sure it has helped me overcome obstacles in life but heyeewerent in a war!
Like the book but blast
#151, SJSA. Ancient memories, scars even. Part of who I am now. Don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I absolutely haven’t needed to go camping in quite some time. I have some photos… we had a darkroom at Stony Plain. I’ll scan them, but don’t know for sure who the people are.