Historic Sites of Manitoba: Alexander Ross School / Manitoba School for the Deaf (242 Stradford Street, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

Named for Sheriff and Councillor of Assiniboia Alexander Ross, this masonry and steel-framed building in west Winnipeg contained a gymnasium and 29 rooms (classrooms and office space) totaling some 52,498 square feet. It was based on designs of the Winnipeg architectural firm of Pratt Lindgren Snider Tomcej and Associates. Built at a cost of around $1,500,000 by W. W. Construction, operation of the school began in 1975 but, until construction was completed, classes were held at seven locations in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. Kindergarten and grade one classes were held at Lakewood School while grades two to six were held at Strathmillan School, and grades seven to nine were housed at Spring Valley School.

The building was ready in March 1976 and an official opening ceremony was held on 29 September 1976. It was attended by School Board Chairman George Waters, Minister of Education Ian Denys Turnbull, Asiniboia MLA Stephen Clifford “Steve” Patrick, St. Charles councillor Rurik “Ric” Nordman, St. James-Assiniboia Director of Education Ronald Andrew “Ron” MacIntosh, school trustee Francis Walker “Frank” Armstrong, architect Stewart Eric Lindgren, W. W. Construction representative Steve Weseloski, School Division Superintendent Alfred George “Al” Goebel, and Principal Leonard Harvey “Len” Goldsborough.

The school closed in the summer of 1989 and the building later became the home for the Manitoba School for the Deaf.

Principals

Period	Principal
1975-1979	Leonard Harvey “Len” Goldsborough (1931-2012)
1979-1981	John Proudfoot (?-2013)
1981-1987	John “Jack” Elliott
1987-1988	Nicholas “Nick” Yacheson
1988-1989	William “Bill” Engbrecht

Vice-Principals

Period	Vice-Principal
1975-1978	William Francis “Bill” Moore (1938-2022)
1978-1979	Don Loadman
1979-1980	John Carlyle
1980-1982	Hardy Enns
1982-1983	Sharon Smith
1983-1985	Victor A. Mollot
1985-1987	Vona Edgar
1987-1988	Arlene Billeck
1988-1989	?

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1975-1976	Miss B. Hooper (Physical Education, Language Arts, Art), Miss L. Hovorka (French), Miss K. MacDonald (Math, Science), Miss P. Maskell, Lawrence Melnyk (Math, Science), Miss G. Michaluk, Mr. D. Parsons (Band), Mrs. G. Roberts, Mrs. V. Robertson (Physical Education, Language Arts, Health), Miss Irene Schmidt (Kindergarten), Mr. W. Shurraw (Math, Language Arts), Anne Marie Stadnyk (Social Studies, Science), Miss L. Steindele (Music, Language Arts, Glee Club), Mrs. Pearl Stewart, Miss Mureen Szymanski, Neil Whitley, Mrs. M. Waithman (Resource)
1976-1977	Gerry Bolin, Mrs. Joanne Booth (grade 7), John Chalaturnyk (grade 5), David Chaze (grade 7), Mrs. S. Deverdenne (grade 3), Stan Dychko (grade 8), Mrs. Margaret Dykes (grade 4), Mrs. Kerri Elliott (grade 5), Mrs. L. Fraser, Margaret Gibson (grade 3), Miss B. Hooper, Victor Hooper, Mrs. L. Horrill, William “Bill” Humiski (grade 7), Mr. F. Linklater, Miss K. MacDonald (grade 9), Lawrence Melnyk (grade 6), Miss Grace Michaluk (grade 1), Mrs. E. Perchaluk, Frieda Psooy, Miss Irene Schmidt (kindergarten), Mrs. S. Sellors (grade 7), Walter Shurraw (grade 8), Mr. D. Skinner (grade 8), Anne Marie Stadnyk (grade 9), Mrs. Pearl Stewart (grade 2), Miss Mureen Szymanski (grade 2), Mrs. P. Ternovetsky (grade 1), Mr. H. Wahl, Neil Whitley (grade 6), Mrs. B. Wynes (grade 4)
1977-1978	Gerry Bolin, Mrs. Joanne Booth, John Chalaturnyk, David Chaze, Mrs. S. Deverdenne, Stan Dychko, Mrs. Margaret Dykes, Miss Colleen Einarson, Mrs. Kerri Elliott, Margaret Gibson, Ray Guenther, Victor Hooper, Mrs. L. Horrill, Mrs. Howie, William “Bill” Humiski, Mr. F. Linklater, Miss K. MacDonald, Miss Loretta Martin, Lawrence Melnyk, Miss Grace Michaluk, Frieda Psooy, Miss Irene Schmidt, Mrs. S. Sellors, Anne Marie Stadnyk, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, Miss Mureen Szymanski, Mr. H. Wahl, Neil Whitley, Mrs. B. Wynes
1978-1979	Gerry Bolin (grade 9), Mrs. Joanne Booth (grade 7), John Chalaturnyk (grade 5), David Chaze (grade 8), Mrs. Gerdine Crawford (grade 7), Philip Desilet (physical education), Stan Dychko (grade 8), Mrs. Margaret Dykes (pre-intermediate), Miss Colleen Einarson (library technician), Mrs. Kerri Elliott (grade 4), Mrs. L. Fraser, Margaret Gibson (grade 1), Mrs. Gregory, Ray Guenther (guidance), Miss Brenda Hooper (grade 8), Victor Hooper (grade 5), William “Bill” Humiski (grade 9), Miss Sharon Kempa (grade 4), Miss MacFadyen, Miss Loretta Martin (grade 3), Lawrence Melnyk (grade 9), Miss Grace Michaluk (grade 1), David Negrych (grade 6), David Nestruck (band), Mrs. Parr, Mrs. Freda Psooy (resource), Miss Irene Schmidt (kindergarten), David Skinner (grade 7), Anne Marie Stadnyk (guidance), Mrs. Pearl Stewart (grade 2), Miss Mureen Szymanski (grade 3), Mrs. Annette Turko (grade 2), Mr. H. Wahl, Neil Whitley (grade 6)
1979-1980	Miss Schmidt (kindergarten), Anne Marie Stadnyk, ?
1980-1981	Miss Schmidt (kindergarten), Anne Marie Stadnyk, ?
1981-1982	Anne Marie Stadnyk, ?
1982-1983	Anne Marie Stadnyk, ?
1983-1984	Gerry Bolin, Mr. Bratland, Mrs. Crawford, Mr. Diehl, Mrs. Fast, Mrs. Fetterly, Mrs. Forsythe, Mrs. Frenette, Mrs. Gillies, Mrs. Halligan, Miss Hickey, Miss Hill, Miss Hooper, Miss Kempa, Miss Lockhart, Mrs. MacFadyen, Mrs. Maclean, Miss Martin, Mrs. Michaluk, Mr. Mochnacz, Mr. Moore, Mrs. Morgan, Mr. Redgwell, Miss Schmidt, Anne Marie Stadnyk, Mrs. Turko, Mr. Turko, Mrs. Warachka
1984-1985	Mr. Baydock, Mrs. Beaudry, Gerry Bolin, Mr. Bratland, Ms. Craig, Mr. Diehl, Mr. Farrant, Mrs. Fast, Mrs. Fetterly, Mrs. Forsyth, Miss Friesen, Mrs. Gates, Mrs. Gillies, Mrs. Gould, Mrs. Halligan, Mrs. Hickey, Miss K. Hill, Miss Hooper, Mr. Hooper, Miss Kempa, Miss Lockhart, Miss MacFadyen, Mrs. MacLean, Miss Martain, Mrs. Matsyk, Mrs. Matthews, Miss Michaluk, Mr. Moore, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Parr, Mr. Redgwell, Miss Schmidt, Mrs. Smith, Anne Marie Stadnyk, Mr. Turko, Mrs. Turko, Ms. Warachka
1985-1986	Mrs. Forsyth, Miss K. Hill, Anne Marie Stadnyk, ?
1986-1987	Mrs. Barton, Mr. Baydock, Gerry Bolin, Mrs. L. Craig, Mrs. Vona Edgar, Mr. Elliott, Mrs. Fast, Mrs. Forsyth, Mrs. G. Friesen, Mrs. C. Gates, Mrs. J. Hickey, Miss K. Hill, Ms. Kempa, J. Komenda, Mr. N. Lipinski, Miss Lockhart, Mrs. J. Maclean, Miss L. Martin, Mrs. Matthews, Miss R. Militano, Mr. Redgwell, Mrs. N. Savinkoff, Mrs. M. Simeondis, Mrs. Smith, Anne Marie Stadnyk, Miss V. Strom, Mr. D. Turko, Mrs. L. Ward
1987-1988	A. Bul?, Mrs. L. Craig, Mr. J. Dyck, Mrs. G. Friesen, C. Gates, K. Gu?, Mrs. J. Hickey, D. Hughs, J. Hyrich, J. Komenda, Mr. N. Lipinski, Mrs. J. MacLean, Mrs. A. Major, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss L. Martin, Miss R. Militano, Mr. K. Obirek, J. Paulson, Mrs. Peterer, Mrs. N. Savinkoff, Mrs. M. Simeondis, Anne Marie Stadnyk, Miss V. Strom, Mr. D. Turko, Mrs. L. Ward
1988-1989	Mr. Bader, Mrs. L. Craig, Mr. J. Dyck, Mrs. Engbrecht, Mrs. G. Friesen, Mrs. J. Hickey, Mrs. Laham, Mr. N. Lipinski, Mrs. J. Maclean, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss L. Martin, Mrs. A. Major, Miss R. Militano, Mr. K. Obirek, Mrs. Peterer, Mrs. Reyda, Mrs. N. Savinkoff, Mrs. M. Simeonidis, Miss V. Strom, Mr. D. Turko, Mrs. L. Ward

Photos & Coordinates

Architectural Sketch of Alexander Ross School (circa 1976) Source: St. James Assiniboia School Division The former Alexander Ross School (May 2020) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The former Alexander Ross School (May 2020) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89609, W97.31945 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Pratt Lindgren Snider Tomcej and Associates

Manitoba Organization: Manitoba School for the Deaf

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Deaf and Dumb Institute / Manitoba School for the Deaf (Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba School for the Deaf / Manitoba Teachers’ College / Canadian Mennonite University (500 Shaftesbury Boulevard, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba School for the Deaf / Manitoba Vocational Centre / Prince Charles School / Prince Charles Education Resource Centre (1075 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“Tenders,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 January 1975, page 41.

“Ross School still has no building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1975, page 3.

“Temporary spots set for Ross School pupils,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 1975, page 91.

“Strike up the ban for Alexander Ross School,” Contact, Volume 2, Number 4, October 1976, St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

“Subdivision plan angers school board,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1989, page 2.

“The St. James - Assiniboia School Division requests proposals to lease,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly West Edition, 18 June 1989, page 5.

Obituary [Anne Marie Stadnyk], Winnipeg Free Press, 8 November 2014.

We thank Jennifer Sargent, Victor Mollot, and Dorothy Young for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 2 March 2024

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