Toronto, ON | Grades 9 - 12 | Shortlist
OAT is located in a building in the beating heart of midtown Toronto. Located at the base of the tower is an excellent tea place with countless great places to get food or purchase consumer goods within a minute's walk. It is also just a couple of blocks from Eglinton subway station so commuting there is very easy and cheap.
Ontario Academy of Technology is grounded in an excellent location, near the subway and in a good neighbourhood. My son and his friends regularly go eating in different places near the school. After the classes they frequently go to the cinema in a shopping centre very close to the school. They regularly go together to the gym in the same shopping. Definitely OAT is not an island for him.
The location of Ontario Academy of Technology was absolutely perfect for me as I was a full time student at Northern Secondary School at the time, which was just around the corner. There are also many restaurants nearby and Eglinton subway station is about a block away, making the school very accessible. The last time I went to visit the school, there was talk of going to visit universities and when I attended school, field-trips occurred from time to time, which enhanced the learning.
OAT is conveniently located near a major intersection that is well served by public transportation. The space itself is clean, well-organized, and comfortable. My sons enjoyed the "urban vibe" of the location and the availability of a wide variety of cafes and shops. There are no "school grounds" as such given OAT's location. Once again, this was not a priority for my family at all.
The school is in a convenient location. It is very close to the Eglinton subway station and my son commutes by public transport. He packs his lunch and eats at school most days. The lunch break is 45 minutes which is tight to go out, buy and eat. There are many students who do this though, there is a Loblaws and many fast food options. OAT is an alternative school. It really feels more like an office, it is located in a building with an elevator. We haven't yet enrolled in the gym class, due to COVID-19 this has been postponed until next year. I understand that the school uses Eglinton park and the gymnasium of another nearby high school for gym and sports days.
