Emily Stowe Public School is the new name for the former Norwich District High School building, which was renovated to house all the elementary students when Otterville P.S., Norwich P.S. and North Norwich P.S. were closed in June 2012.

 A committee of the board was tasked with selecting a new name from those submitted by the community. The committee included two representatives from each of the 3 schools that were merged into the new school in September 2012.

Emily (Jennings) Stowe was Canada's first female doctor. She was born in Norwich on May 1, 1831. Stowe was the great granddaughter of Peter Lossing and was born to Quaker couple. At age 15 she began to teach grade school in the Norwich area and eventually, by saving salary, was able to enter Normal School where she earned her First Class Teacher's Certificate in 1854. That same year she was appointed as principal of Brantford Public School becoming the first woman principal in Canada. She married, John Stowe in 1856 and moved with him to Mount Pleasant. They had three children. After her husband battled tuberculosis Stowe decided to pursue a medical career.

She applied to the faculty of medicine at Victoria College in Toronto but found that no female students were accepted. She then enrolled at the New York medical college for women. Emily Jennings Stowe became the first woman doctor in Canada in 1867 when she returned home to Ontario to set up a practice in Toronto.

Our school runs on a regular day program with our start time as 9:00 am and dismissal time at 3:30 pm.  We are on a balanced day schedule and break from 11:00 - 11:50 am and 1:50 -2:30 pm.

During the school year, the Principal, Ms. Harrower, the Vice-Principal, Mr. Neufeld,  and the school secretaries can be reached at 519-468-0201. The school fax number is 519-468-0130.

Code of Conduct and Dress Code

Cell Phone Policy

Please call with questions and comments at any time.