Established in 1953, Crawford Adventist Academy has been part of the Toronto community for more than 6 decades. We provide a nurturing, disciplined and healthy environment for our students – an environment that develops the whole child. Our schools generate some of the most sought after graduates. If you are looking for an education with a difference, if you desire an environment where your child will thrive, we invite you to consider the Crawford Adventist Academy family of schools.
The history of Crawford Adventist Academy (CAA) began over 60 years ago with a single elementary school (grades 1-6) in the 1950's as the Toronto Junior Academy (TJA). TJA was created by the faithful members of the Willowdale Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1953. One year later a new larger facility was constructed thanks, in part, to the generous donation of philanthropist, Dr. Erwin Crawford.
Twenty-five years later, on August 15, 1978, the Toronto Adventist District School Board (TADSB) was organized as a corporate body by a number of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Churches in Toronto to operate Christian schools, beginning with TJA, that would model the whole-person development model and values of the denomination. Today there are 38 member churches with over 12,000 members who, through the Ontario Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and their local churches, contribute over $1.8 Million (about 30%) to the required operating budget of our schools.
As TJA grew, the need for a Junior High School (grade 7-8) and a High school (grade 9-12) division became the goal. This goal was realized in 1981 on the original TJA premises at Finch & Bathurst. The school was expanded and renamed Crawford Adventist Academy in honour of Dr. Erwin Crawford.
In 1995 a Junior Kindergarten (JK) program was added to CAA Elementary in response to the community's request. The JK program has remained at or near full capacity ever since. CAA elementary division (grade JK-6) is currently looking to expand both its program and facilities over the next two years.
The Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education is Christ-centered. Adventists believe that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God's character and purposes can be understood as revealed in the Bible, in Jesus Christ, and in nature. The distinctive characteristics of Adventist education-derived from the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White-point to the redemptive aim of true education: to restore human beings into the image of their Maker.
Seventh-day Adventists believe that God is infinitely loving, wise, and powerful. He relates to human beings on a personal level, presenting His character as the ultimate norm for human conduct and His grace as the means of restoration.
Adventists recognize, however, that human motives, thinking, and behavior have fallen short of God's ideal. Education in its broadest sense is a means of restoring human beings to their original relationship with God. Working together, homes, schools, and churches cooperate with divine agencies in preparing learners for responsible citizenship in this world and in the world to come.
Adventist education imparts more than academic knowledge. It fosters a balanced development of the whole person-spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. Its time dimensions span eternity. It seeks to develop a life of faith in God and respect for the dignity of all human beings to build character akin to that of the Creator to nurture thinkers rather than mere reflectors of others' thoughts to promote loving service rather than selfish ambition to ensure maximum development of each individual's potential and to embrace all that is true, good, and beautiful.
Our Mission is to build and operate a network of schools organized to facilitate children and families desirous of achieving their highest potential. They accomplish this by developing their physical, mental, spiritual and social faculties within a structured, disciplined, healthy and nurturing environment.
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