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sbolan@yr~mg.com Oscar Peterson was a world-renowned jazz musi- cian who dropped out of school at 14 to pursue his But he never forgot the value of an education. In the mid-19803, he was an adjunct music professor at York Uni- versity, than its chancellor in the early 1990s. PETERSON FAMILY THRILLED WITH SCHOOL NAMED FOR FAMOUS OAO Now, there is an elemenâ€" tary school named after Mr. Peterson in Stoulfville. SCHOOL COUNCIL'S IDEA Oscar Peterson Public School, which Opened in September on Hoover Park Drive, held its official open- ing ceremonies last Thursday. The school replaced Orchard Park Public School, which shut down last June. “I just feel a sense of pride every time I drive by and see it,” said Norm Peterson, one of Mr. Peterson’s sons and a resident of Whitchurch- Stoufl'ville for 30 years. “The school has a won- derful musical and cultural influence and we didn’t have ALL Tlie Peterson family, including son Narman Peterson (front row, from left); Oscar’s widow, Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s daughter Celine and his sister May, applaud the ceremonies. Women’s Fag ions, Footwear and Accesso" es... BY SANDRA BOLAN 137 Main Street North, Markham 0 905-294-3882 to do with that at “He would have been so thrilled because he had such a passion for childnen and education," said Oscar's youngest daughter, Celine Peterson. Naming a school after a prominent Canadian is noth- ing new. Within York Region alone, schools are named for Lester B. Pearson, Sir Wilfrid Iaurier, Dr. Roberta Bondar and Ibrry Fox. Mr. Peterson's name was brought forward by the Orchard Park school council inlanuary 7 “We liked how Oscar Peterson was a notable Canadian but he had famâ€" ilyinthe area and the matched the old school. It was such a perfect fit," said Loralea Carruthers, the York Region District School Board trustee for East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouflville. As well, the school's name “would give us a vehicle to explore the arts, creativity and diversity with our stu- dents,” Ms Carruthers said. Oscar Peterson began playing the piano and trum- Purchase any Spring Item" and regeive “d Item s 15 pct as ayoungbayunder the tutelage of his father, Dan- iel Peterson, aWestindian immigrantwhoworkedasa railway porter. He continued with his piano studies under the watch of his older sister Daisy after tuberculosis damaged his lungs at the age ofsix. At 14, Mr. Peterson won CBC's national amateur contest and with his fadten’s permission, Mr. Peterson dropped out of school to focus on his musical career. S‘I'OUFFVILLE SON Mr. Peterson earned eight Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 1997, as well as hundreds of prizes from the jazz com- munity, the Governor Gen- eral’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement and was a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 2005, Canada Post marked his contribution to music with a 50-cent stamp. Mr. Peterson died Dec. 23, 2007, at the age of 82. â€" with fila from TbrStar News Service Oscar Peterson Public School’s Concert Choir struts its stuff during opening of school. Oscar Peterson principal Laura Ryckman chats with regional education director Bill Hogarth and student guides Enoch Ncube (left) and Sharyar Ahmed during the Stouffville school’s official opening last Thursday. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SJOERD WITTEVEEN ' Regular tickeffl “ Lesser regain!"