This school was named after Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian educator, philosopher, and scholar—a professor of English literature, a literary critic, a rhetorician, a communication theorist, and a committed Roman Catholic.

At the height of World War II, the federal government acquired the club, and it became a secret air force research facility known as the No.

1 Clinical Investigation Unit, and later the Royal Canadian Air Force Institute of Aviation Army.

During that time, noted James Bond author, Ian Fleming was posted to both Camp X in Ajax and to this facility for intelligence officer training.

Another noted employee, scientist Wilbur R. Franks, developed the world's first anti-gravity flying suit (G-Suit) at the facility.

Following WWII, the Royal Canadian Air Force stationed squadrons here to defend Toronto during the Cold War.

When World War I broke out, the business failed, and McLuhan's father enlisted in the Canadian army.

[1] He is known for coining the expressions the medium is the message and the global village, and for predicting the World Wide Web almost thirty years before it was invented.

At the request of Bishop De Charbonnel, five Brothers came to Toronto in 1851 and established a grammar school at the corner of Lombard and Jarvis Streets.

In 1950, after a great deal of effort and sacrifice on the part of the Brothers and the alumni of the school, the present structure was officially opened.

In 1995, the MSSB acquired the 2.7 hectare Canadian Forces Staff School although the homeowners were worried to see their homes expropriated.

The $14,600,000 addition of an existing military college structure, designed by Global Architects Inc., was completed in February 2001 and its facilities consisted of the cafetorium, gymnasium, library, well-lit atrium, chapel, and multiple computer labs.

McLuhan offers a wide range of sports that suit the preferences of many students and has committed to run strong Rugby programs, and more recently, Track & Field and Cross Country teams as well.