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When you consider the current and amazing variety of activities available for GNS students at two large gyms, turf fields and fitness facilities with inter-school competition at local, provincial, national and international levels, it may come as some surprise how today compares to one of our founding schools nearly a 100 years ago.
Not until 1926 was there any requirement to wear a gym tunic on drill days and by the end of the decade this became the daily uniform. An undergarment of black bloomers was used to stuff the tunic into for any energetic activities. At the school premises of the time on Granite Street, the garden provided some space for informal games at recess but was totally inadequate for any sports. Those sports were confined mostly to netball, rounders and tennis and played at any available space in the neighbourhood. A few parents loaned out their tennis courts which were closer than the Stadacona Park courts, although students still walked there for rounders. It is interesting to note that underhand serving in tennis was compulsory at the school as Miss Atkins deemed the overarm serve unladylike. One family had a suitable space at their house to erect two posts for netball, while Physical Training classes (the precursor to PE), which consisted mainly of drill exercises, often took place on a large wooden deck in the basement of the Oak Bay United Church near Granite Street. Apparently Miss Atkins also ‘pooh-poohed’ basketball because rushing around and standing, legs apart, in excruciatingly unconventional postures was totally unsuitable for young ladies. She did permit badminton however because the girls could stand in elegant positions on the court and the very nature of the shuttlecock prevented it from flying too fast for her sensitivity. This was played at the Alexandra Club on Courtney Street, which required a streetcar trip downtown. There were no competitive matches against other schools during this time—not until the mid-1930s.
It was the acquisition of Pemberton Woods in 1931–1932, and the 1933 building of the gymnasium (see photo above) thanks to a generous donation from a parent, that heralded the new approach to fitness, games and competition. Within a relatively short space of time, tennis courts and playing fields were added to the plentiful land available. Although P.T. still focused on drill and gymnastic exercises, badminton and netball could be played inside and field hockey, together with stoolball, track and field, and even cricket became games that brought enjoyment and competitive opportunities outside. This new era of physical training was well supported by a new three-house system (Dereham wasn’t added until 1965) which encouraged a ‘friendly’ rivalry and competitive spirit within the school that opened up the desire and opportunity for inter-school competition.
