Built in 1969 on a 20-acre property on Birchmount Road north of Sheppard Avenue, John Buchan opened on September 2, 1969 and Stephen Leacock Collegiate opened on September 8, 1970 as the borough's fifteenth collegiate institute. Both schools are connected to one building on Birchmount Road and form a larger kindergarten to Grade 12 campus with Pauline Johnson Jr. Public School. The school was designed by architects, Abram and Ingelson, following trends of brutalist architecture. The schools were named after John Buchan, the fifteenth Governor General of Canada and Stephen Leacock, an English Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humourist.
Both Leacock and Buchan are situated in one building located on 2450 Birchmount Road. Both schools share an auditorium and library while the layout is separated from the rest of both schools. Located in 21 acres at a combined 247,263 sq. ft. building with three floors, the two schools contain over 40 classrooms/science labs, two floor library, cafeteria, specialized television and radio studios, four gym spaces, 1000 seat auditorium with DMX lighting consoles and a three-bay automotive shop.
The 23 m, six lane pool is shared by both schools and is overseen by the board's realtor subsidiary, Toronto Lands Corporation. It is also used by several swimming clubs and schools, including C & C Aquatic Club, Champion Athletic Club, Chaco’s Winner Swimming Club, J. Dolphins School of Swimming and Wendy and Yaya's School of Swimming.
