Reinstate Dr. Jerzy Cichocki as Principal Conductor of St. Michael's Choir School

The petition started after a few former students heard Doc's side of the story.

ALERT! Apparently the Archdiocese has advertised that there will be no choirs singing this weekend. This is a public relations move. They have done this to avoid public embarrassment. They hate being in the news, and the media is probably calling them for a statement, and they are refusing to do so. Parents and students should show up at the main mass on Sunday with placards and protest outside the cathedral. Steve Handrigan has probably hired another Newfoundlander to replace Dr. Cichocki. My guess is that this person will be a certified teacher. The TCDSB has likely been influenced by the Diocese, to put Doc behind the desk of a library somewhere, and move his replacement to the Choir School on Monday. This is how they operate. Underhandedly, and not in the best interests of the kids, parents, alumni or the school's legacy. So one and all who care about the future of SMCS, get out there on Sunday, and make your voices heard.

Amongst all the emotion and shock registered here, do the parents realize that they should contact the TCDSB with questions, because the appointed successor is not an employee of the Catholic Bd. of Education, and cannot teach in the academic section of the school. What then is the status of the students' academic vocal music credits? Doc is still an employee of the TCDSB and on the staff of the academic wing of SMCS. Who is empowered to award report card marks ? Will the Archdiocese now have to pay an accompanist to pay at choir rehearsals, because the designated successor to Doc has no keyboard skills, and the cathedral organist also not an employee of the TCDSB? Everyone writing here seems to assume that no-one else is capable of filling the role of Dr. Cichocki. How do they know this for a certainty? Have they ever been associated with any other good choral ensembles and other conductors, or is their only experience that of Bond Street?

To clarify I posted the information about this weekend for parents planning purposes as many are probably checking this petition... not to fan any flames.

According to the Cathedral website the school choirs aren't singing this weekend. https://www.stmichaelscathedral.com/

Has anyone heard from the Doctor himself?

When my son who was an alumnus of the school mentioned to me yesterday about this recent event I was literally in shocked. How can SMCS let go of someone who has dedicated all his life to the school, to the cathedral, to the community and to the hundreds of students who has been under his mentorship. This is both shocking and appalling and I think we all deserve, especially the students, a thorough and clear explanations as to the reason why this happened. With all the changes going on with SMCS, you just start wondering in what direction the choir school is heading for. Dr. Cichocki deserves a better treatment than this.

"To blindly demand action with such lack of understanding (i.e. little information/reason etc) is simply premature, and possibly irresponsible." Doc's supporters beg to differ emphatically. He is a school alumnus (!) who does not deserve to be treated this way. His dedication and passion for the school and the Church are unassailable, and his skills and talents, not to mention his academic pedigree, are indisputable. His style is perhaps not for everyone but through the volume of support generated by this petition it is clear he has earned the love and respect of parents and students. The ask to reinstate him also emphasizes that the burden of proof should be on those who orchestrated his departure. Without proper explanation and rationale, the onus is on them to prove to the SMCS community that this firing is good for the school and the Church. Amidst all the rancor and disagreement, what is undeniable is that his treatment was nothing short of appalling and a poor example for the boys. And so it has to be asked, who then are truly being blind? And since when has taking a stance against injustice classify as irresponsible?

In the absence of an explanation from the administration to what is perceived by students and parents as an unfair, unethical and unchristian dismissal of a highly respected, inspirational conductor/teacher (as articulated by hundreds in this petition) it seems unfair to ask boys to sing at this weekend's masses. Adults are having trouble understanding this, let alone children/teens. Are they expected to process this on their own because "the show" must go on? Respect should be shown for their emotional wellbeing. They are, in a fashion, mourning what to them is a great loss and what they perceive as an injustice to a beloved teacher/mentor. Student passion is evident in the petition. It's not healthy for kids to be in this type of environment without support. I think the school board has due processes for such situations. It would be ideal to have a meeting before school resumes to shed light on this matter, why it happened and whether it can be resolved. The petition clearly shows a strong student, family community outcry that needs to be acknowledged in a way that's suitable for situations involving kids. The announcement was mishandled but here is a chance to do right by the students, family and community. Respectfully, going forward, please handle this professionally and suitably to a Cathedral-Basilica community. Let's give the students an example of how men and women for others behave, truly.

GREAT CONDUCTOR!!!

I'm shocked to say the least to hear about Jerzy being dismissed from his position especially knowing how tirelessly dedicated he was to the school, and his related duties inside the Cathedral. It is my hope that they reconsider this move especially with such overwhelming support and more importantly trying to find someone as qualified won't be an easy task to say the least. I urge anyone who feels strongly about this to sign this petition and support a man who was made this his vocation and was a fitting successor to Monsignor Armstrong and upheld the traditions of the Choir School with honour, dignity and integrity.

@Anonymous Anonymous, the previous Director was not bullied out - there were no "bullies" in the Music Office at the time.

A teacher, that has been employed more than 25 years, being let go from his postion is really unreasonable. Especially in the middle of the school year.

I have support from my three sons that attended SMCS to sign this petition. Doc is a great leader.

I couple of years ago, I heard Dr Cichocki saying during an interview that the choir boys are not celebrities but students who are dedicated to serving the Cathedral through sacred music. I probably don't remember the exact words he used. Suffice it to say that I held him in high regard when I heard him say those words. The only official voice for SMCS who truly understands the mission and history of the Choir School. What has been happening though over the last few years seem contrary to that vision. The boys are being portrayed as celebrities, faces used to enhance "branding" for the school ( and to use Mr Handrigan's words "especially the cute younger ones") and commodities that generate funding. Results of all the fanfare and attention given to the students are not always consistent with what could be the original vision of Mgsr Ronan. Kids start looking at themselves differently - celebrities, more special compared to others and the true meaning of "Bis Orat Qui cantat" is lost. How many of these students really understand the sacredness of the music that they sing every single day? How many of them can keep a level of commitment, focus and energy to properly perform at the numerous engagements arranged for them? How many of them really appreciate the connection between their academic and choral obligations? I think the school has lost its focus and the only one person who has been trying to preserve this focus is now mysteriously let go. Why the obscurity of the message? Although this is not the first time the school has done it. Lest people forget how the previous Director's departure was also announced. It didn't get much attention. Maybe because he was with us just for a short period of time. But equally mysterious nonetheless. No explanation, lots of speculations and his brief existence at SMCS easily forgotten. But this pattern of communication from the school administration, including the Archdiocese, creates a level of anxiety that

Has anyone had a response from the Diocese? It's been a week now. This is why the Diocese and the Cardinal are going to attempt to ignore everyone's concerns, and objections. Because they can. Your fight needs to be stepped up. "Employment 101 - Termination Without Cause: Overview The majority of terminations of employment in Ontario are without cause. The employer does not need a good reason to end the employment relationship and, therefore, is not required to prove that the employee did something wrong in order to justify its decision to dismiss the employee. Instead, the employer simply exercises its right to end the employment relationship by providing the employee with reasonable notice of dismissal.  Typically, an employee who is dismissed without cause does not receive advanced warning of the termination of employment. Instead, the employee is notified in a termination meeting that his or her employment is being terminated effective immediately. The employer provides the dismissed employee with a termination letter that provides an offer of a severance package. The purpose of the severance package is to compensate the employee for the employer’s failure to provide the employee with proper notice of dismissal." Phil White is a Toronto employment lawyer. http://employmentlaw101.ca/01-overview-termination-without-cause/

Someone said the senior choir is lacking musically, and that the choristers sound weak. It's been like that for the past three-four years. Why does Doc have to recycle songs each year for Massey Hall? Because the guys aren't focused, so he can't kick it up a notch. Doc taylors the program not only for the concert, but also to the choir's capabilities. It's not completely Doc's fault when obnoxious teenagers can't sit still for an hour. Also, the TB choir this year (and for the past two years) at Massey Hall sounded horrendous. What happened there? Let's not forget that parents and students have a right to know what's going on. Whether you like Doc or not, his dismissal seems a little off. We need an explanation. From what I gather from the comments, Handrigan has been alienating Doc for some time. Just a guess, but it seems like he's trying to sell the choir like a commodity for funding. Business-like. Not in line with Msgr. Ronan's vision.

Dr Cichocky is part of the SMCS institution. He has done a lot for the school and more than a whole generation of students. I am sure who had the audacity to dismiss him as if he was just ainor detail.

For the sake of all that is good and fair , reinstate Doc.

Vindictive retribution.