Founding Principal
Etobicoke School of the Arts

One month after her 88th birthday, Nancy Main departed this life peacefully on April 28, 2021 after a brief stay at North York General Hospital.

Nancy grew up in Toronto, graduating from Oakwood. C. I. She juggled various part-time jobs to put herself through school, graduating with a B.A. in Art and Archeology from the University of Toronto. After her teacher training, she started her career as Head of Art at the newly-opened Thistletown Collegiate in north Etobicoke. From there she went to the Art headship at North Albion C.I. After earning her M.Ed. degree, she was the first female Vice-Principal appointed in the Etobicoke Board, serving at NACI. She continued her pioneering role as a female administrator when she was appointed Principal at Richview C. I.

In 1980 the Etobicoke Board decided to open a secondary school that had as its foundation education in the arts and education through the arts. It chose wisely when it selected Nancy Main to make that vision a reality. She was uniquely suited to the role because she had the skills and experience to articulate the vision and communicate it to potential students and their parents. In 1981 the Etobicoke School of the Arts opened with 100 students in the old Queensway Public School building. In 1983 ESA moved to its present location on Royal York Road. Miss Main lived long enough to see the enduring success of the first Canadian public secondary school devoted to the arts and academics. ESA celebrates the 40th anniversary of its opening this year and its graduates have made their marks across Canada, and some internationally, as they have taken their place enriching the cultural life of the communities in which they live.

Nancy retired in 1992. She approached her retirement with the same energy and enthusiasm she gave to her profession. In addition to attending performances and lectures, she also enjoyed her cottage at Bayfield and bridge-playing. Her lifelong interest in nutrition and fitness led her to respond to a request for volunteers for a clinical trial. She took great pleasure in participating for 13 years in the award-winning cholesterol research of Dr. David Jenkins at
St. Michael’s Hospital. Not only did Nancy participate in activities, she was also generous in her financial support of those activities, individuals and institutions.

Miss Main was always pleased to hear from former students and the tributes posted on Facebook would have delighted her. Here are some of their comments:
“Miss Main always made me feel like I was supposed to be at ESA. She was so intentional about making us all feel welcome.”
“The debt I owe her is beyond words. To say that ‘ESA changed my life’ sounds too trite to fully express the impact of the atmosphere and opportunities she created. And I’m just one of thousands…..”
“Her very presence made you want to sing louder, dance better, play harder and walk taller. A true pioneer in arts education in Canada.”
“ESA was the ‘House that Nancy built’… a home for so many of us.”

On her retirement in June, 1992 the Board named the ESA auditorium in her honour. The words on the dedication plaque at the entrance to the Nancy Main Auditorium were adapted from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov and they provide a suitable epitaph for a person of such grace and intellect, relentless optimism, compassion and creativity.

"And so we will remember her all our days. And even if we are occupied with most important things…if we attain to honour or fall into great misfortune…still let us remember how good it was here ,when we were all united by these loving feelings, which made us, for the time we stood together ,better than perhaps we are."

Cremation has taken place and funeral arrangements are private, according to Miss Main’s wishes. Right now our best tribute to Nancy Main is to continue to nurture the creative spirit in young people and to support artistic pursuits in our communities.

You are invited to leave online condolences at www.etouch.ca.