by Fred Morris
September 2024
This week is Back to School Week. This story deals with a little bit of the history of a fondly remembered school that lasted only 25 years. Some of the material comes from the following Deer Lodge Junior High Yearbooks:
1963-64 Editor Mark Van
1964-65 Editor James Pask
1964-65 Editor Judy Northcott
1971-72 Editor Lois Outhwaite
1972-73 Editor Carol Krampets
1973-74 Editor Karen Joughin
1976-77 Editors Erin O'Shaughnessy and Canadice Bannister
During the middle 1950s, the Mandeville Street Deer Lodge Tennis Club was surrounded by two small forests. Neighbourhood opposition killed a plan to build a much-needed Junior High School on this site. If the school had been built on this site a few feet from my childhood home, my legendary lateness for school may never had happened.
A site was chosen at the south west corner of Ness and Albany. Deer Lodge Junior High was built in 1957 with a 1960 addition. Five houses on the west side of Albany Street were demolished to make way for the school. Homes at 344 and 348 Albany received a temporary reprieve. These two homes remained in use surrounded on two sides by the school. In retrospect, I believe that the 1965 demolition of 344 and 348 Albany was unnecessary. Between 1956 and 1966, Ron Thompson was the Superintendent of St. James School Division. Thompson had spent part of his adolescence living at 374 Sackville Street. During the 1966 Deer Lodge Closing Exercises, Ron gave an interesting history of the neighbourhood including the challenges of fitting the school around Truro Creek.
The first Principal was Ron Macintosh. George Colton, Ruby Douglas, Roseanne Keyes, Elsie McLachlan, and Ted Witowski were among the original teachers. The 1963-64 Year Book was dedicated Deer Lodge's first Vice Principal Annie Wiechman. After retiring as Vice Principal she stayed on for one year as a Grade 8 teacher. The 1963-64 Year Book was dedicated to Miss Wiechman. Hugh Ritchie taught mentally handicapped children. Hugh served as President of the Manitoba Council for Exceptional Students. In 1963, Merv Farough an art teacher directed a Drama Club play called the School Daze. Merv played an important role in developing the St. James Assiniboia School Division Media Center. Gordon Huber is best remembered for teaching many students how to drive in the Driver Education Program. Ron Lovering helped produce Year Books as both a student in the 1960's and as a teacher in the 1970s. During the last 10 years of Deer Lodge Junior High, Allan Appel taught English and Social Studies. Mr. Appel's unique style which included singing in the classroom created many positive memories for students.
In 1959, Wayne Pullan a Deer Lodge Student was the grand winner of the St. James Lions- St. James Family Y Rodeo. Wayne won a bicycle. In 1961, Doug McDuff was the individual winner in the Junior High section of the two-mile St. James Road Race.
In 1964, a rally was held to honour retiring custodian William Meaden. Bruce Tallman, Brenda Cleverly, Dale Turner, Hugh Burton, and Wayne Critchley performed leading roles in the rally. In the 1964 Yearbook Ernie Friesen who succeeded Mr. Meaden is quoted:
“It is great to see a lot of familiar faces of both students and teachers.”
Shortly after graduating from Deer Lodge Junior High, Carol Betker won the 1965 Carl Peterson Manitoba Junior Athlete of the Year Award. On 22 January 1966, Jim Johnston a grade 9 student scored assisted by Gary Beauchamp (a recent Deer Lodge alumni) scored the first goal at the St. James Civic Centre. During the 1966-67 School Year, Tom Thompson was both the Valedictorian and Deer Lodge Junior High Male Athlete of the Year.
In March 1966, a Deer Lodge Girls Choir under the direction of Rose Birse won the IODE Trophy in a folk song competition at the Manitoba Music Festival. One of their winning songs Czechoslovakian folk song “Came a Riding”. Also, in the spring of 1966 Gary Krushen won first prize for the best individual exhibition in the Junior High category of the Manitoba School Science Fair.
During the 1970s, I found a few hockey connections. Craig Campbell played four seasons and 186 games with the MJHL St. James Canadians. Glen Campbell and Andy Meers played for the first St. James Canucks ( 1978-79) team. Craig Heisinger is currently the General Manager of the Manitoba Moose. Kevin McCarthy a Manitoba Hockey Hall of Famer player who won the 2006 Stanley Cup as an Assistant Coach with the Carolina Hurricanes.
During the 1972-73 School Year, Frances Waters made the Honour Roll with a 90.8% Average. In 1963-64, her older sisters Anne, and Isobel had made the Honour Roll also with averages over 90%.
During the 1975-76 school year, Grade 8 and 9 boys took sewing while the girls took wood work. The program operated under the direction of Principal Vic Wieler, Sewing, Teacher Judy Clark, and Wood Shop Teacher Bill Vandenburg.
During the 1976-77 school year, Deer Lodge won the St. James Assiniboia Badminton Tournament. The year honoured the efforts of Donna Porteous, Barb McLean, Mike Buss, Wayne Byrd, Leslie Campbell, Richard McLean, Buffy Guderyan, Guy Saranchuk, and Rhonda Cline. Also in the 1976-77 Year Book, there is a page commemorating the Science Fair 1st Place winners Erin O'Shaughnessy, Linda Pink, Susan Coles, Danny O'Shaughnessy, Gary Sewell, Tony Jamieson, and Dave Yakamischak.
Bill Moir was a member of the 1967-68 MJHL Champions St. James Canadians. Bill later became an Ontario based Tim Hortons executive. Winnipeg Blue Bomber Quarterback Broadcaster, and Executive Bud Harden attended Deer Lodge. In 2019, Larry Bolonchuk was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey hall of Fame. Larry played on the 1983 the Hardy Cup Champion North End Flyers . Sandy Campbell won the Girls under 18 Championship at the 1971 Saskkatoon Regional Tennis Championships. Linda Campbell won the 1973 Womens Singles at the Manitoba tennis Open. Nils Ling author, film maker, and columnist wrote a book True Blue about the 1984 Winnipeg Blue Bomber Grey Cup victory. Gord Sparkes, Don Finkbeiner, Doug Finkbeiner, David Iverson, Jeff Ryan, Patrick Ryan, John Allardyce, and Robert Christie have won Manitoba Curling Championships. Pat Doyle won the 1993 Manitoba Amateur Golf Championship .Former Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger attended Deer Lodge for Grades 8+9. Ed Johner is a founder and spokesperson for the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad which raises funds for prostrate cancer research. Robert McGregor is the Winnipeg Blue Bomber PA Announcer. Bruce Alexander Scott Johnston, Craig McGregor, Jennifer Lawson have served on the St. James Assiniboia School Board., Kathy Knight is the dean of the ICT Program at the U of M. Irwin Kumka is currently the Deputy Mayor of Victoria Beach.
On 16 February 1978, Deer Lodge held its 20th Anniversary Tea. A couple of 1978 news stories seemed to suggest that Deer Lodge would hold many more teas. The School Board had just invested in a $250,000 renovation that improved teacher quarters, gym showers, and a medal shop. A group of concerned parents led by David Milner were able to get a 1,000 names on a petition expressing concerns about the disrepair of the red brick building of the nearby Linwood School (built in 1914 & 1918). However, in 1982 Deer Lodge closed due to declining enrolments.
Since the closing of the school, the building has been used in various ways. Info Tech Resource Center used it as an office. Some Movie Shots have taken place in the school. In 2010, the School Division sold the building. Since the closing as a school, Deer Lodge Junior High has been twice used as school. An April 1985 fire in Jimmies Junction part of St. James Collegiate forced the brief relocation of some classes to Deer Lodge Junior High. The 2011 Lake St. Martin evacuees used the school.
On 31 October 1967 a Deer created by Winnipeg sculptor Wayne Brueckner was unveiled in front of the east end of the school. School Principal John Pemberton, Vice Principal Len Goldsbouough, and Student president Robyn Johnston are pictured in the Winnipeg Free Press Archive. This Centennial project was partially funded by Deer Lodge students. I have asked the St. James Assiniboia School Board to look into this mystery.
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Deer Lodge Junior High School (1970 Ness Avenue, Winnipeg)
Page revised: 24 June 2026
