H. Hugh Sellers
Biography & Academic Legacy
Born in 1945, H. Hugh Sellers was a widely respected, outgoing, and energetic educator whose presence lit up classrooms across the Durham Region. He possessed a rare charisma that inspired both children and colleagues to push the boundaries of their potential.
He began his teaching career at Frenchman's Bay Public School in Pickering, Ontario. Recognising early on the paradigm-shifting potential of technology, Sellers became a true digital pioneer in local schools, designing and piloting early computer applications for primary-level education.
He transitioned to Southwood Park Public School in Ajax, where he served with distinction as Vice-Principal, guiding the school community through educational expansions until his untimely death in a motor vehicle collision on October 17, 1972.
Medical Science Lineage
Hugh Sellers' dedication to inquiry was a proud family hallmark. He was the son of Dr. Edward A. Sellers (1916–1985), a giant of Canadian medical science, professor, Associate Dean of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and the founding Director of the world-renowned Banting & Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC) in 1978.
A Noble Connection
Through his father's research circle, Dr. Charles H. Best—the iconic co-discoverer of insulin—became Hugh's godfather, sealing a deep familial connection to one of the greatest global health breakthroughs of the 20th century.
The 26-Mile (41.8 km) UNICEF Walkathon
In May 1972, Frenchman’s Bay Public School witnessed an extraordinary display of civic dedication. Spearheaded by the Grade 8 class, student organisers planned a gruelling 26-mile (41.8 km) charity walkathon across Ontario County to raise funds for UNICEF.
Supervised directly by teachers Mr. Hugh Sellers and Mr. William Watt, the event mobilised 451 young walkers from Frenchman's Bay, Bayview Heights, and West Rouge Public Schools.
Interactive Historical Trek Route (26 Miles / 41.8 km)
1. Pickering (Start & Finish)
The walk commenced and concluded at the Pickering Municipal Building. Supervised by Mr. Hugh Sellers and Mr. William Watt, 451 students gathered to begin the trek across Ontario County.
The Guardian Bear Monument (5 Feet / 1.52 m)
Following Hugh Sellers’ passing in late 1972, the Southwood Park and Ajax school community established a memorial trust fund to erect an enduring tribute. In March 1973, master Canadian sculptor Elford Bradley Cox (E.B. Cox, RCA, 1914–2003) was commissioned to carve a monumental Indiana limestone bear anchored to a 1.8-tonne glacial granite erratic plinth.
E.B. Cox, an intimate friend of the Sellers family and renowned pioneer of Canadian direct stone carving (taille directe), carved the bear without sharp edges specifically so children could climb, touch, and play upon it safely—embodying Hugh's joyful philosophy of education in motion.
Climb The Bear • Touch The Stone
Scan the on-site QR plaque mounted beside the 1973 E.B. Cox sculpture to explore the history, the 26-mile (41.8 km) walkathon, and the living legacy of H. Hugh Sellers.