r/toronto • u/purepotstill • 19h ago

News Barrie Sketchley, TDSB’s longest-serving principal, dies at 85

https://www.thestar.com/gift-redeem?t=86ad04bc-6dfc-4c9a-b306-a211e1c5f636
71 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

39

u/unfashionablylatte 17h ago

Mr Sketchley was my Principal at Rosedale. He built that school to be a hub of compassion and creativity. He was so very much loved by his students.

20

u/gm5891 18h ago

Sent to the big office in the sky

6

u/RickMonsters 13h ago

If I die and end up in an office, I’m killing myself

12

u/amw3000 16h ago

I read about him the other day when someone posted the picture of the unknown track for Rosedale.

Kind of crazy how they forced him to retire, somehow kept his job for the 2025-2026 school season then died a couple months later after retiring. Didn't know he was well into his 80s.

5

u/Some_Distance_599 12h ago

The reason he managed to stick around last year was because of major student protests 

9

u/These-Marsupial-3129 19h ago

Barrie was a good person.

9

u/buddhabear07 9h ago

Students from another school showed up at Rosedale one day and asked Mr. Sketchley, "Who the fuck are you?", and he answered "I'm the fucking principal". RIP Sketchley. They should rename the school after you.

6

u/Cager_CA The Annex 17h ago

Did they really refer to World War 2 as “the war on the south coast of England” lol?

9

u/Trillination 15h ago

Lol no he was born on the south coast of england during the war. Bad wording I guess.

8

u/FishermanKing 11h ago

Mr Sketchley was so cool. He genuinely connected with all the students, and I think he learned everyone's name (even if they weren't the type to get sent to the office on the reg.) I hope he's ringing that school bell in the sky now.

6

u/gleefulavocado 14h ago

He was my principal in high school, this really breaks my heart.

5

u/1irishsparky 9h ago

Was my principal at Rosedale.! Good guy, thanks and rip Mr Sketchley

2

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4

u/air621 Riverside 8h ago

Both my kids went to Rosedale. He was a great principal who cared about his students and the arts. It was unfair to try to move him but wonderful to see all the people who came out to support him. My daughter who is in her last year there says the new principal is great. I hope he sticks around