Reach for the Top
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
in which teams of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students participate in local, provincial and eventually national trivia
Trivia
The trivia are the three lower Artes Liberales, i.e. grammar, rhetoric and logic. These were the topics of basic education, foundational to the quadrivia of higher education, and hence the material of basic education, of interest only to undergraduates...
tournaments. The non-televised tournaments held at high schools throughout Canada during the year are known as Schoolreach; both are commonly referred to simply as "Reach".
Some districts also have "Intermediate" level competitions, where the questions are written with a lower level of difficulty to provide experience to new, younger players. Intermediate level champions do not move on to national finals.
In Canadian universities, Quiz Bowl is the dominant form of trivia competition, often played by those who participated in Schoolreach and Reach for the Top in high school.
History
The televised Reach for the Top series was first shown on CBC TelevisionCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
affiliate CBUT
CBUT
CBUT-DT is the CBC's television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the flagship CBC Television station for the Pacific Time Zone. The station transmits its main terrestrial signal from a tower atop Mount Seymour....
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1961, based on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Top of the Form
Top of the Form
Top of the Form was a BBC radio and television quiz show for teams from secondary schools in the United Kingdom which ran for 38 years, from 1948 to 1986.-History:...
. In that first year, a team from three high schools in Burnaby, BC - Fred Affleck, Robert French, Lynne Mader and Marilyn Pelzer - defeated every other team and took all the prizes. The first national Reach for the Top tournament took place in 1965, and was won by Vincent Massey Collegiate Institute
Vincent Massey Collegiate Institute
Vincent Massey Collegiate Institute was a high school located at 105 Eringate Drive in Etobicoke from 1961-1985.During its existence, it produced two Reach for the Top National Championship teams in 1966 and 1978, and was the only high school in Canada to accomplish this during the original 20 year...
from Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
. The series was filmed at locations across Canada with the national championships held in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. In 1968 a short-lived Trans-World Top Team series was created by the CBC and BBC, in which teams from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
played teams from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek
George Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
hosted the Toronto version for several years. In Montreal, the show was hosted by Bob Cadman and by Marc Coté. Shelagh Rogers
Shelagh Rogers
Shelagh Rogers, OC is a Canadian radio broadcaster. She is currently the host of CBC Radio One's The Next Chapter.Rogers grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. She was the "Head Girl" at her high school, Lisgar Collegiate Institute. She played in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and was a spare on the Reach for...
, later a host for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, was a contestant on the original broadcasts of the show. Bill Guest
Bill Guest
Bill Guest was best known as quizmaster of the Winnipeg edition of Reach for the Top from 1962–1985 and quizmaster of the national finals between 1969 and 1985 when the show aired on CBC Television....
hosted the National Finals on CBC from 1969 to 1985.
The CBC stopped airing Reach for the Top in 1985, but it continues to be shown under the aegis of Reach for the Top Inc. From 2000-2008, the national finals were aired by CLT (now OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network), hosted by Graham Neil of CFRN-TV
CFRN-TV
CFRN-DT is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Edmonton, Alberta. It is an owned and operated station of the CTV Television Network....
in Edmonton. In 2009, the national finals were not aired except for the final game which was filmed in the TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
studio. It is unknown whether or not TVO will air the 2010 national finals in its entirety. Until 2009, games at the provincial level were broadcast on stations unique to their respective provinces, among them Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
on TVO with Nicole Stamp
Nicole Stamp
Nicole Stamp is a Canadian actor, director, television host, and television producer....
of TVOKids
TVOKids
TVOKids is a children's programming block, seen daily on TVOntario , Ontario's provincial educational television network. The show has its own website which holds many educational child-friendly games.-History:...
(and produced and directed by Sidney M. Cohen
Sidney M. Cohen
Sidney M. Cohen is a Canadian television director specializing in live multi-camera productions requiring minimal editing and is also a TV program creator.He was born in Montreal, Quebec and began his career with CFCF-TV and later CBC Television...
), British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
with Tamara Stanners on Knowledge, and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
with Graham Neil on Access
Access (TV channel)
CTV Two Alberta is a Canadian English language entertainment, information, and educational television channel in the province of Alberta...
. However, only Ontario provincial level games are now aired (by TVO).
In 1985, Reach for the Top Inc., a private company, was established by Sandy Stewart
Sandy Stewart (producer)
Andrew "Sandy" Stewart was a Canadian television producer and writer. He was the producer of Reach for the Top, a high school quiz competition that continues today.-Early life and career:...
, on agreement with CBC. Mr. Stewart then joined with his wife, Patricia Stewart, in partnership with Robert Jeffrey and Paul Russell of Paulus Productions Inc. to create Schoolreach, an in-school version of Reach for the Top available across Canada by subscription. Schoolreach is organized among the different school boards in Canada, and monthly tournaments are played, culminating in a district final each spring. The winner in each district participates in the provincial finals (which are televised in Ontario), and the provincial winner competes in the national championship.
Reach for the Top Inc. produced a season of programming out of Toronto in 1986 and 1987. The Reach for the Top National Finals were revived in 1988. In 1995, Sandy and Pat Stewart retired from Reach For The Top. Reach for the Top and Schoolreach were then taken over by Paulus Productions Inc. under the direction of Paul Russell and Robert Jeffrey.
CBC revived the format in the program Smart Ask which was cancelled in 2004. From 1973 to 1997 the CBC's French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
network, Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...
, aired a program called Génies en herbe
Génies en herbe
Génies en herbe was a Radio-Canada television program in which students representing their école secondaire participated in trivia tournaments. Tournaments also took place in French-speaking communities outside Quebec, such as Saint Boniface, Manitoba...
("Budding Geniuses"), which was the French language equivalent of Reach for the Top. Competitions continued after the cancellation of the program, and teams from other francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
countries around the world often participated.
Format
The game is similar to Quiz BowlQuizbowl
Quiz bowl is a family of games of questions and answers on all topics of human knowledge that is commonly played by students enrolled in high school or college, although some participants begin in middle or even elementary school...
, the high school and university trivia game played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but with some significant differences. Reach questions include "snappers," the same as "tossups" in Quiz Bowl, which can be answered by any of the four players on either team. There are also "Who am I?" or "What am I?" questions and "shootout" questions, also open to any player. "Relay" questions are directed at only one of the teams, and "assigned" questions are directed to a single player. Questions are typically worth ten points, but can be worth up to forty points. Points are not deducted for a wrong answer.
Every game lasts for three rounds, with one minute breaks in between. As of 2009-2010, each game consists of 86 questions, plus four sudden-death tiebreakers in the case of a tie game after regulation. Contestants may answer a question before the reading of it is completed; however, a correct, anticipated guess does not earn extra points.
The tournament is divided into three different levels. At the regional level, local high school teams compete against each other to determine who goes on to the provincial level. The winners of the provincial championships then go on to the National Reach for the Top tournament. The winner is then declared the national champions.
Types of questions
- Snappers: Snappers begin and end every round, and are called "snapstarts" and "snapouts" respectively, and are of miscellaneous category. Four snappers, worth ten points each, begin the first three rounds, and end the first two. To end the third round and the game, there are usually 10-12 snappers worth ten points each. The tiebreaker questions are also snappers.
- Open Questions: These types of questions are open to both teams. Open questions are found in sets of two, three or four. Each correct answer is worth 10 points. Audio and visual questions follow the same rules. Under the rules of the 2007 and 2008 National tournaments, incorrect answers given before questions in this category are finished resulted in a five-point penalty (a 'neg 5').
- Team Questions: A Team Question is actually a set of questions, worth a possible total of 40 points. When a team question is announced, both teams have an opportunity to answer the first question, called a "scramble". The team that answers the scramble first will have an opportunity to answer the remaining three questions, whereas the opponent will not. In the event that neither team answers the scramble, the remaining questions are open to both teams. In some leagues, the team question is forfeited completely. This is much like the tossup/bonus format played in QuizbowlQuizbowlQuiz bowl is a family of games of questions and answers on all topics of human knowledge that is commonly played by students enrolled in high school or college, although some participants begin in middle or even elementary school...
.
- Who/What/Where/What Word am I? Questions: The purpose of a Who/What/Where/What Word am I? question is to guess a person/place/thing. Clues are provided by the reader, and are read, one at a time. Between clues, both teams have an opportunity to guess the person/place/thing. If both teams provide incorrect guesses, the next clue will be read. This continues until the fourth and final clue is read. If neither team can provide a correct answer, the answer will be revealed, and no points will be awarded. What Word am I? questions provide up to four quotes with a missing word common to each. If a team provides the correct answer after being provided with one clue, that team will earn 40 points. Each subsequent clue reduces the question's value by 10 points. Unlike a multi-clued QuizbowlQuizbowlQuiz bowl is a family of games of questions and answers on all topics of human knowledge that is commonly played by students enrolled in high school or college, although some participants begin in middle or even elementary school...
tossup, the clues in a Who/What/Where/What Word am I? question do not necessarily give one unique answer; and sometimes, the 40 point clue can be quite vague, i.e. "I am an European Country that has experienced war".
- Chain Snappers: Chain snappers are similar to snappers, but each question is somehow related to the preceding answer. These are usually found in groups of 6, an can replace a snapper set to end a round.
- Assigned questions: Assigned questions are found in sets of eight—four questions per team. A question is assigned to each person; if the person cannot answer the question correctly, his/her opponent (sitting directly across from him/her) will have an opportunity to answer. Players may not consult with their teammates when they are assigned a question.
- Relay questions: Each team is presented with four questions, one team at a time. The first three questions are worth 10 points each, while the last question is worth 20. If a team provides an incorrect answer at any point in the relay, the remaining questions assigned to that team are forfeited. Consultation is allowed.
- 20-point special: A correct attempt at a 20-point special will earn 20 points. Some 20-point specials require more than one answer while others are a bit more difficult than the regular 10-point questions.
- Shootout questions: Shootouts consist of 12 snappers, and are open to both teams. If a participant provides a correct answer, he/she will not be able to answer any further questions in the shootout. A team will be awarded 40 points if they provide four correct answers before their opponents do. This will end the shootout. If neither team provides four correct responses before the end of the shootout, no points are awarded. Prompting and consultation amongst the players is forbidden. A shootout sometimes replaces a set of snappers to end a round.
- List questions: List questions are open to both teams, and are worth a possible 50 points. The reader will introduce the theme of the question, and ask for five items relating to that theme. For example, if the theme were "Chemical elements", the reader could ask for the first five elements of the periodic table. Teams alternate responses; if one team provides an incorrect response or repeats an answer, then the other team shall have an opportunity to name the remaining items in the list unless they too make a mistake in giving a wrong answer or repeating.
Eligibility
Participants must be "continuously enrolled in a secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
" to be eligible for participation in Reach for the Top. The age limit restricts participants to those who are 19 or younger at the beginning of the school year. There are no rules about the language of instruction in a school or that a school must be in Canada, but the vast majority of teams come from anglophone schools in provinces with established leagues.
CEGEP
Cégep
CEGEP is an acronym for , which is literally translated as "College of General and Vocational Education" but commonly called "General and Vocational College" in circles not influenced by Quebec English. It refers to the public post-secondary education collegiate institutions exclusive to the...
s, post-secondary institutions in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, by definition do not fit eligibility requirements. However, given that first-year CEGEP is effectively equivalent to Grade 12 in other Canadian provinces, the participation of CEGEP-1 students has been allowed in practice.
Notable teams
In 1978, Vincent Massey Collegiate InstituteVincent Massey Collegiate Institute
Vincent Massey Collegiate Institute was a high school located at 105 Eringate Drive in Etobicoke from 1961-1985.During its existence, it produced two Reach for the Top National Championship teams in 1966 and 1978, and was the only high school in Canada to accomplish this during the original 20 year...
became the first high school to win the National Championship twice. They played their first game in March 1978 against Richview Collegiate Institute
Richview Collegiate Institute
Richview Collegiate Institute is a secondary school in Etobicoke, in the west end of Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Toronto District School Board....
and current Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
in the first game of the Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
flight. Vincent Massey Collegiate easily won by a score of 445-160, with Mr. Harper scoring 80 points for Richview Collegiate in his first and only appearance on the show. Interestingly, Nicole Stamp
Nicole Stamp
Nicole Stamp is a Canadian actor, director, television host, and television producer....
, who has been the host of Reach For The Top's Ontario Championships since 2004, is also an alumna of Richview Collegiate.
In 2003, the University of Toronto Schools
University of Toronto Schools
The University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, became the first school in Reach for the Top history to win back-to-back national titles. Other schools to win the championship twice include Cobequid Educational Centre
Cobequid Educational Centre
Cobequid Educational Centre is a high school located in Truro, Nova Scotia.CEC serves not only the town of Truro, but rural areas in Central and West Colchester County...
in Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
(1981 and 2005), St. George's School
St. George's School (Vancouver)
St. George's School , of Vancouver, Canada is an independent boarding and day university-preparatory school for boys.-History:...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(1991 and 2004), Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School
Saunders Secondary School is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb of London, Ontario, Canada. It is named after William Saunders and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture and horticulture. Grades offered are...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(1992 and 1996), Gloucester High School
Gloucester High School (Ottawa)
Gloucester High School is a high school in the Beacon Hill, Ottawa, Canada neighborhood of Gloucester, in the city of Ottawa. Their mascot is the Gator, and the school can harbor approximately 2000 students...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario (1998 and 2001), London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
(2007 and 2009) and Kennebecasis Valley High School
Kennebecasis Valley High School
Kennebecasis Valley High School is a secondary school that serves students from grades 9 to 12 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada.-History:...
in Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Quispamsis is a Canadian town located in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is located 20 kilometres northeast of Saint John, in the lower Kennebecasis River valley.The name is traditionally pronounced with a weak stress on either the first or last syllable....
(2010 and 2011).
In 1990, the champions from Memorial High School in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia defeated the National Academic Championship team from Collegiate School
Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia)
Collegiate School is a preparatory school for boys and girls located in Richmond, Virginia. The student body of Collegiate comprises about 1,500 total students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade...
of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
305-280.
Lorne Jenken High School in Barrhead, Alberta
Barrhead, Alberta
Barrhead is a town in central Alberta, Canada, within the County of Barrhead No. 11. It is located along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 18, approximately northwest of the City of Edmonton...
, which won in 1973 and made six other nationals appearances in the 1970s under the direction of current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Ken Kowalski
Ken Kowalski
Kenneth "Ken" Reginald Kowalski, MLA is a provincial level politician and former teacher from Alberta, Canada. He is a current member and also dean of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and has served continuously since November 1979 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus...
, was considered "the series' most successful competitors" in the 1985 edition of the Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia
The Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...
.
St. George's High School in Vancouver, British Columbia, qualified for the national finals every year from 1989-2007, except in 1994 when Magee Secondary School
Magee Secondary School
Magee Secondary School is one of the first public high schools located in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Magee is fed by the surrounding elementary schools in its catchment area. They include Maple Grove Elementary School, Dr. R.E. McKechnie Elementary School,...
represented British Columbia. In 1991 and 2004, St, George's were the national champions.
National champions
- 1965-1966 Vincent Massey Collegiate InstituteVincent Massey Collegiate InstituteVincent Massey Collegiate Institute was a high school located at 105 Eringate Drive in Etobicoke from 1961-1985.During its existence, it produced two Reach for the Top National Championship teams in 1966 and 1978, and was the only high school in Canada to accomplish this during the original 20 year...
, Etobicoke, OntarioEtobicoke, OntarioEtobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of... - 1966-1967 Rideau Collegiate Institute, OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... - 1967-1968 Oak Bay Secondary SchoolOak Bay Secondary SchoolOak Bay High School is the fourth largest secondary school in the Greater Victoria School District. It is located in Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Roughly 1200 students attend in grades 9 to 12 in both regular and French immersion programs in two buildings, called East and West. The first high...
, Victoria, British ColumbiaVictoria, British ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian... - 1968-1969 Neil McNeil Catholic Secondary SchoolNeil McNeil Catholic Secondary SchoolNeil McNeil Catholic Secondary School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic secondary school of the Toronto Catholic District School Board in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Neil McNeil is one of 31 high schools run by the TCDSB and one of four all-boys schools, and currently has an enrollment of 811...
, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... - 1969-1970 Kelvin High SchoolKelvin High SchoolKelvin High School is a public high school, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-History:Founded in 1912 as Kelvin Technical High School, the name was later shortened to Kelvin High School. The school is named after the mathematical physicist and engineer Sir William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin of...
, WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... - 1970-1971 River East Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 1971-1972 O'Leary High School, EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... - 1972-1973 Lorne Jenken High School, Barrhead, AlbertaBarrhead, AlbertaBarrhead is a town in central Alberta, Canada, within the County of Barrhead No. 11. It is located along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 18, approximately northwest of the City of Edmonton...
- 1973-1974 Gonzaga Public High School, St. John's, NewfoundlandSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
- 1974-1975 Queen Elizabeth High SchoolQueen Elizabeth High School (Halifax, Nova Scotia)Queen Elizabeth High School was established in September 1942, at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street, on Camp Hill, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "QEH" was always known for its high academic standards, competitive sports teams and distinguished extra-curricular activities such as the annual Model...
, Halifax, Nova ScotiaCity of HalifaxHalifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996... - 1975-1976 Central Peel Secondary SchoolCentral Peel Secondary SchoolCentral Peel Secondary School is a high school that is located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and it is operated by the Peel District School Board. , the school enrollment stood at 1,262. Central Peel first opened its doors in 1960...
, BramptonBramptonBrampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... - 1976-1977 Glenlawn Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 1977-1978 Vincent Massey Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke, Ontario
- 1978-1979 Banting Memorial High SchoolBanting Memorial High SchoolBanting Memorial High School is the only secondary school located in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Simcoe County District School Board and as of 2005 has a student population of approximately 1,800...
, Alliston, OntarioAlliston, OntarioAlliston is a settlement in Simcoe County in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is part of the Town of New Tecumseth since the 1991 amalgamation of Alliston and nearby villages of Beeton, Tottenham, and the Township of Tecumseth... - 1979-1980 Hillcrest High SchoolHillcrest High School (Ottawa)Hillcrest High School is an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board high school in the Elmvale Acres neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The school was opened in 1961, and has over 1100 students. Its sports teams are nicknamed "The Hawks". Hillcrest High School is a very ethnically diverse...
, Ottawa, Ontario - 1980-1981 Cobequid Educational CentreCobequid Educational CentreCobequid Educational Centre is a high school located in Truro, Nova Scotia.CEC serves not only the town of Truro, but rural areas in Central and West Colchester County...
, Truro, Nova ScotiaTruro, Nova Scotia-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :... - 1981-1982 Dakota Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 1982-1983 Roland Michener Secondary SchoolRoland Michener Secondary SchoolRoland Michener Secondary School is an English and French Immersion public high school in South Porcupine, Ontario. It is a small school with an average enrollment of 350-500, and is part of the District School Board Ontario North East...
, South Porcupine, Ontario - 1983-1984 Deloraine Collegiate Institute, Deloraine, ManitobaDeloraine, ManitobaDeloraine is a farming town in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is situated near the Turtle Mountains in the southwestern corner of the province. Located in the Westman Region, the town is 100 kilometres south of Brandon, the region's largest centre...
- 1984-1985 Kate Andrews High School, Coaldale, AlbertaCoaldale, AlbertaCoaldale is a town in southern Alberta, Canada, located east of Lethbridge, along the Crowsnest Highway.- Attractions :The main attractions are the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, the Land o' Lakes Golf Course, and the Gem of the West Museum....
Between 1984-85 and 1988–89, no national tournament was held.
- 1988-1989 Tagwi Secondary School, Avonmore, Ontario
- 1989-1990 Memorial High School, Sydney Mines, Nova ScotiaSydney Mines, Nova ScotiaSydney Mines is a former town in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.Founded in 1784 and incorporated as a town in 1889, Sydney Mines has a rich history in coal production, although mining activity has now ceased.Prior to a permanent settlement being established, there was significant...
- 1990-1991 St. George's SchoolSt. George's School (Vancouver)St. George's School , of Vancouver, Canada is an independent boarding and day university-preparatory school for boys.-History:...
, VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... - 1991-1992 Saunders Secondary SchoolSaunders Secondary SchoolSaunders Secondary School is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb of London, Ontario, Canada. It is named after William Saunders and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture and horticulture. Grades offered are...
, London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city... - 1992-1993 St. Joseph's High SchoolSt. Joseph's High School (Renfrew)St. Joseph's Catholic High School is a high school under the authority of the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board , located in Renfrew, Ontario. It has approximately 380 students. It has grades 8-12....
, Renfrew, OntarioRenfrew, OntarioRenfrew, Ontario, Canada, is a town on the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County. Located one hour west of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario, Renfrew is the third largest town in the county after Petawawa and Pembroke. The town is a small transportation hub connecting Ontario Highway 60 and Highway 132 with... - 1993-1994 Bell High SchoolBell High School (Ottawa)Bell High School is a high school located in Bells Corners of Ottawa, Canada. Established in 1962 by the Carleton Board of Education as a public high school, it currently serves as one of the only two facilities with the prestigious OCDSB Gifted Program...
, Nepean, OntarioNepean, Ontario- Recent quantity of snow :- History :Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean... - 1994-1995 Fredericton High SchoolFredericton High SchoolFredericton High School is a high school in the city of Fredericton in New Brunswick, Canada. It is the oldest English high school in Canada, founded in 1800.-History:...
, Fredericton, New BrunswickNew BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... - 1995-1996 Saunders Secondary School, London, Ontario
- 1996-1997 Earl Haig Secondary SchoolEarl Haig Secondary SchoolEarl Haig Secondary School is a public high school with a student body of about 2,300 students in Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school's principal is Renata Gonsalves.-History:...
, Toronto, Ontario - 1997-1998 Gloucester High SchoolGloucester High School (Ottawa)Gloucester High School is a high school in the Beacon Hill, Ottawa, Canada neighborhood of Gloucester, in the city of Ottawa. Their mascot is the Gator, and the school can harbor approximately 2000 students...
, Gloucester, OntarioGloucester, OntarioGloucester is a suburb of and within the City of Ottawa. Gloucester Township was established in 1792 and originally included lands east of the Rideau River from the Ottawa River south to Manotick. It was incorporated as a township in 1850 and became a city in 1981... - 1998-1999 Frontenac Secondary SchoolFrontenac Secondary School-History:Frontenac Secondary School was founded in 1957 under the name Collins Bay High School, and adopted its current name in 1964. FSS has a long standing tradition of excellence in academics, and post-secondary, and career preparation, athletics and the arts. Frontenac's enrollment is around...
, Kingston, OntarioKingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post... - 1999-2000 Merivale High SchoolMerivale High SchoolMerivale High School is a secondary school, located at the intersection of Merivale Road and Viewmount Drive in Nepean, Ontario, Canada. The school is known for its gifted student program, but also runs French Immersion programs and extensive visual art, music, and co-operative education...
, Ottawa, Ontario - 2000-2001 Gloucester High School, Ottawa, Ontario
- 2001-2002 University of Toronto SchoolsUniversity of Toronto SchoolsThe University of Toronto Schools is an independent secondary day school affiliated with the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, Toronto, Ontario - 2002-2003 University of Toronto Schools, Toronto, Ontario
- 2003-2004 St. George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 2004-2005 Cobequid Educational Centre, Truro, Nova Scotia
- 2005-2006 Woburn Collegiate InstituteWoburn Collegiate InstituteWoburn Collegiate Institute is a non-semestered secondary school on Ellesmere Road in the Scarborough district of Toronto. Its motto is Let the Zeal for Learning Flourish.- History :...
, Toronto, Ontario - 2006-2007 London Central Secondary SchoolLondon Central Secondary SchoolLondon Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
, London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city... - 2007-2008 Lisgar Collegiate InstituteLisgar Collegiate InstituteLisgar Collegiate Institute is an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board secondary school in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Lisgar Collegiate Institute, one of the country's best regarded public schools, is located in downtown Ottawa by the Rideau Canal and is only a few blocks from Canada's Parliament Hill...
, OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... - 2008-2009 London Central Secondary SchoolLondon Central Secondary SchoolLondon Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
, London, OntarioLondon, OntarioLondon is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city... - 2009-2010 Kennebecasis Valley High SchoolKennebecasis Valley High SchoolKennebecasis Valley High School is a secondary school that serves students from grades 9 to 12 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada.-History:...
, Quispamsis, New BrunswickQuispamsis, New BrunswickQuispamsis is a Canadian town located in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is located 20 kilometres northeast of Saint John, in the lower Kennebecasis River valley.The name is traditionally pronounced with a weak stress on either the first or last syllable.... - 2010-2011 Kennebecasis Valley High SchoolKennebecasis Valley High SchoolKennebecasis Valley High School is a secondary school that serves students from grades 9 to 12 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada.-History:...
, Quispamsis, New BrunswickQuispamsis, New BrunswickQuispamsis is a Canadian town located in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is located 20 kilometres northeast of Saint John, in the lower Kennebecasis River valley.The name is traditionally pronounced with a weak stress on either the first or last syllable....
Alumni
- Lucie EdwardsLucie EdwardsLucie Edwards worked in the department of Foreign Affairs from 1976 to 2009, as the high commissioner to India, South Africa, Kenya and permanent representative to the United Nations Environmental program. She founded the Global Issues Bureau and served as assistant deputy minister for Corporate...
, Canadian diplomat - Stephen HarperStephen HarperStephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of CanadaThe Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution... - Adam GoldenbergAdam GoldenbergAdam Goldenberg is a Canadian speechwriter and political advisor.Goldenberg was Chief Speechwriter to Michael Ignatieff during his time as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. During the 2011 federal election, Goldenberg was a contributor...
, Canadian speechwriter
Controversy
Over the past few years, Reach for the Top has received complaints from players and coaches. A particular issue has been the reuse of content within the packs of a year, and sometimes even in the same pack. Another has been the balance of subject matter within a particular game. Moreover, the format also can create controversy, as different people may accept different answers. Periodically, there are also answers that are incorrect. Ben Smith has been banned from spectating Reach games, for promoting quizbowl. Players from Ontario have formed the Ontario Quizbowl Association, to counter the effects of playing Reach for the Top.See also
- Academic gamesAcademic GamesAcademic Games is a U.S. competition in which players win by out-thinking each other in mathematics, language arts, and social studies. Formal tournaments are organized by local leagues, and on a national level by the Academic Games Leagues of America...
- MathCountsMathCountsMathcounts is a middle school mathematics competition held in the United States. Its founding sponsors include the CNA Foundation, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The competition is designed for sixth, seventh, and eighth...
- SmartAskSmartAskSmartAsk is a Canadian quiz show which ran for three seasons on CBC Television. The show was taped in front of a live audience, with the players sitting on a tiered set...
, CBC television show that was spun off from Reach - Schools' ChallengeSchools' ChallengeSchools' Challenge is the national general knowledge competition for schools in the United Kingdom. It uses the same basic rules as University Challenge, although it is affiliated with neither the game nor the television show....
, the UK schools national quiz. - Génies en herbeGénies en herbeGénies en herbe was a Radio-Canada television program in which students representing their école secondaire participated in trivia tournaments. Tournaments also took place in French-speaking communities outside Quebec, such as Saint Boniface, Manitoba...
, French-language schools quiz on Radio-Canada
External links
- Reach for the Top official site
- Génies en herbe
- Reach for the Top - Ontario
- A rare Reach for the Top clip featuring a young Gord Tanner at YouTube CBC TV movie about a Reach for the Top team and Paul HendersonPaul HendersonPaul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...