Opened in 1929 by the North York Board of Education, the school is named after Field Marshal The 1st Earl Haig, who was commander of the British Expeditionary Force during the majority of the First World War.

[3] The original school was designed by the Toronto architectural firm of Craig and Madill[4][failed verification] and construction started in November 1929.

[6] The Claude Watson Arts Program was founded in 1982 and is integrated with Earl Haig.

[citation needed] Wavy Hall is the name given to the glass hallway close to the main entrance of Earl Haig.

Wavy Hall is one of the most prominent architectural features of the school, and is the most immediately recognizable part of Earl Haig.