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Named for King Edward VII’s consort, Alexandra School was built on the east side of Edmonton Street, between York and St. Mary avenues (where the Winnipeg Convention Centre now stands), between 1902 and 1903, by the Kelly Brothers. A true showplace of the time, it was designed by Architect and Commissioner of School Buildings James Bertram Mitchell. Alexandra School became a template for many of his best school designs. Originally a two-storey building, and intended to alleviate overcrowding at Carlton School, the third floor was added when enrolment justified it. Downtown Winnipeg changed from a business/residential mix to almost all businesses. Four homes at the rear of the school building were removed to make room for expansion.
The school was closed in June 1969 and the building was demolished later that year. A commemorative plaque for the school was presented to the Winnipeg Convention Centre by former Principal Wilfred Gilbert Pearce.
Among the noteworthy students who attended Alexandra School were Gerald Aldous, Chester Martin, Ontario judge Earl C. Popham (1892-1959, son of E. S. Popham), pediatrician Harold E. Popham (1896-1993, son of E. S. Popham), Ralph Maybank, James Richardson, Harry Ashdown, Harold Fowler, Ray Fowler, Norman Dick, Jack Dick, Clifford Dick, Paul Duval, Merlin Duval, Athol Gordon, Edward Pitblado, Albert Hurd “Bert” Warner, Edwin Lloyd Warner, Thomas Laidlaw, Frank Simonite, and Hawood Steele.
Period
Principal
1905-1913
Thomas Laidlaw (1865-1926)
1913-1914
Gilbert Summers (1874-1962)
1914-1915
Lemuel Alexander Ferguson (1865-1915)
1916-1919
Ernest James Motley (1868-1940)
1919-1926
John James Wilkinson (1881-1958)
1926-1929
Herbert Hanford “Harry” McIntosh (1880-1953)
1929-1930
Wilfred Gilbert Pearce (1893-1975) - Acting
1930-1935
Carrie Maud Yuill (1877-1938)
1935-1949
Alice S. Price (1889-1976)
1949-1951
Wilfred Gilbert Pearce (1893-1975)
1951-1954
James Warren Chafe (1900-1984)
1954-1958
Isobel Kendal Jefferies (1905-1975)
1958-1960
Thomas Bell (1913-1996)
1960-1966
Emily Marjorie Shaw (c1915-2009)
1966-1969
Eric V. Hjartarson (c1917-1970)
School Year
Teachers
1903-1904
Miss Banning, Miss Buchanan, Miss Clement, Miss Doupe, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss E. Holiday, Miss Marrin, Miss Martin, Miss McDougall, Miss Scoble, Miss Stevenson
1904-1905
Miss Clement, Miss Doupe, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss H. Hislop, Miss Holiday, Miss Scoble, Miss Thompson
1905-1906
Miss E. Banning, Miss E. Fielding, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss F. Harper, Miss M. Macdougall, Miss C. I. Scobie, Miss Effie Thompson
1906-1907
?
1907-1908
Mrs. Adair, Miss Justine M. Brown, Miss E. Fielding, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss C. Scoble, Miss Effie Thompson
1908-1909
Mrs. Adair, Miss Justine M. Brown, Miss E. Fielding, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss C. Scoble
1909-1910
?
1910-1911
Miss Justine M. Brown, Elizabeth Burch, Miss E. Fielding, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss Alice Stewart, Miss Effie Thompson
1911-1912
Miss Justine M. Brown, Elizabeth Burch, Miss M. Dickie, Miss E. M. Fielding, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss S. McKenzie, Mr. W. Sadler, Miss A. Stewart, Miss Effie Thompson
1912-1913
Elementary Department: Elizabeth Burch, Miss E. Fielding, Miss A. Stewart, Miss Effie Thompson, Miss L. M. Whittacker. Collegiate Department: Miss J. M. Brown, Miss Ethel M. Hall, Miss S. C. MacKenzie, Mr. Sadler
1913-1914
Miss M. J. Bell, Miss F. Kelty, Miss B. Laurie, Miss N. Parsons, Miss M. C. Turner, Miss L. M. Whittaker
1914-1915
Miss M. J. Bell, Miss F. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, Miss M. E. McKinnon, Miss N. Parsons, Miss M. C. Turner
1915-1916
L. Brown, K. Broatch, N. Parsons, M. Bell, F. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, L. Black, L. Griffin
1916-1917
E. B. Elliott, N. Parsons, M. J. Bell, F. E. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie
1917-1918
M. E. Campbell, E. Sanders, F. S. Kelty, M. McKinnon, Bessie Lawrie
1918-1919
Elementary Department: M. Cameron, F. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, M. E. MacKinnon. High School Department: E. M. Fielding, M. A. Garland, F. McColl, Mrs. H. M. Sweet
1919-1920
F. E. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, Maude J. Peacock
1920-1921
?
1921-1922
Elizabeth Burch, V. Douglas, Ethel M. Gillespie, F. E. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, K. A. McDonald, Maude J. Peacock, K. Wooster
1922-1923
Elizabeth Burch, Lovell Crawford, V. Douglas, Ethel M. Gillespie, K. Johnstone, F. Kelty, Bessie Lawrie, Maude J. Peacock, H. M. Sweet, N. C. Thompson
1923-1924
Elizabeth Burch, V. A. Douglass, Ethel M. Gillespie, F. Kelty, B. Lawrie, Maude J. Peacock, Miss Effie Thompson
1924-1925
D. Bishop, Elizabeth Burch, Ethel M. Gillespie, E. R. Johnston, F. Kelty, F. E. McIntyre, Maude J. Peacock, N. C. Thompson, K. Wooster
1925-1926
?
1926-1927
D. Bishop, N. K. Connelly, Ethel Craig, Ethel M. Gillespie, F. E. Kelty, N. Lane, F. E. McIntyre, Maude J. Peacock, A. C. Thompson
1927-1928
V. Douglas, E. J. Hamilton, K. Holloway, F. E. Kelty, N. Lane, E. O’Donnell, Maude J. Peacock, A. C. Thompson, I. Waters
1928-1929
V. Douglass, E. J. Hamilton, F. E. Kelty, I. L. McCallum, Maude J. Peacock, A. C. Thompson, E. P. Wallace, I. Waters, K. Wooster
1929-1930
L. Greenfield, E. J. Hamilton, F. E. Kelty, H. McCallum, Maude J. Peacock, I. R. Waters, K. Wooster
1930-1931
W. M. Bloomer, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, E. J. Hamilton, F. E. Kelty, F. L. Lang, E. M. Rose, M. M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, P. M. Whyte
1931-1932
W. Bloomer, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, E. J. Hamilton, F. E. Kelty, L. F. Laing, E. Rose, M. M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, P. M. Whyte, H. Wallis
1932-1933
W. Bloomer, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, E. J. Hamilton, K. Johnson, F. E. Kelty, E. M. Rose, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, W. Templeman
1933-1934
W. Bloomer, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, K. Johnson, A. Jones, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, R. Tyndall
1934-1935
W. Bloomer, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, F. Hicks, K. Johnson, A. A. Jones, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer
1935-1936
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, D. Faryon, N. Goldstraw, F. E. Hicks, M. Murray, M. Shortreed, E. Spencer, G. Spencer
1936-1937
W. Bloomer, J. Chambers, W. Conroy, E. Haig, L. L. J. Holmes, M. Shortreed, R. Soronow, G. Spencer
1937-1938
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, H. Dykes, E. Haig, L. Holmes, H. Kinney, M. Patterson, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, R. Soronow
1938-1939
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, E. Dawson, H. Dykes, Miss Gertrude Holmes, L. Holmes, A. McDonald, M. Patterson, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer
1939-1940
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, L. Dyke, Miss Gertrude Holmes, M. Lamb, M. O’Keefe, P. Pagot, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer
1940-1941
?
1941-1942
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, Miss Gertrude Holmes, M. Lamb, M. O’Keefe, A. S. Price, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer
1942-1943
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, Miss Gertrude Holmes, M. Lamb, M. O’Keefe, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, E. Suttie
1943-1944
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, Miss Gertrude Holmes, M. O’Keefe, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, E. Suttie
1944-1945
?
1945-1946
W. Bloomer, J. Cameron, W. Conroy, Miss Gertrude Holmes, M. O’Keefe, E. Phipps, J. Robertson, G. Spencer, D. Stringer
1946-1947
W. Bloomer, W. Conroy, H. Crowe, Miss Gertrude Holmes, J. Robertson, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer, D. Stringer, L. Wylie
1947-1948
W. Conroy, L. M. Downing, H. Forbes, Miss Gertrude Holmes, L. B. Neville, J. Robertson, M. Shortreed, G. Spencer
1948-1949
Miss W. Conroy, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. L. Johnston, Miss I. B. Neville, Miss L. Quiring, Mrs. J. Robertson, Miss G. Spencer
1949-1950
Miss W. Conroy, Miss E. Flynn, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. N. McKay, Miss I. B. Neville, Mrs. J. Robertson, Miss G. Spencer, Mrs. V. B. Wallace
1950-1951
Miss W. M. Conroy, Miss E. B. Flynn, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. N. K. McKay, Mrs. M. A. McManus, Mrs. J. A. Robertson, Miss G. Spencer, P. Wilby
1951-1952
Miss W. M. Conroy, Miss E. Flynn, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. N. McKay, Mrs. M. A. McManus, Mrs. J. Robertson, P. Wilby
1952-1953
?
1953-1954
Elementary department: Mrs. J. Alexander, Miss R. Altman, Miss W. Conroy, Miss E. Flynn, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. N. McKay, Mrs. M. McManus, Mrs. J. Robertson. Intermediate department: P. Wilby
1954-1955
Mrs. J. Alexander, Miss W. Conroy, Miss E. Flynn, Hazel Arretta Vandecar Foster, Mrs. C. Haydey, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. N. McKay, Mrs. V. Thornton, Elmer L. Wice
1955-1956
Miss W. Conroy, Miss M. S. Graham, Miss I. Hinchcliffe, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Miss V. Owens, Mrs. E. Pederson, Mrs. V. Thornton, Miss A. Tulman, Elmer L. Wice
1956-1957
Miss W. Conroy, Mrs. Lillian Dyke, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Miss S. Malmgren, Mrs. L. M. Muldoon, Miss A. Mund, Mrs. V. Thornton, Miss A. Tulman, Elmer L. Wice
1957-1958
Miss J. Anderson, Miss W. Conroy, Mrs. L. Dyke, Miss S. Malmgren, Mrs. V. Thornton, Miss A. Tulman, Elmer L. Wice
1958-1959
Mrs. M. Butterill, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. I. Pointon, Mrs. V. Thornton, Miss A. Tulman
1959-1960
Mrs. M. Butterill, Miss M. Collins, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. V. McLennan, Mrs. I. Pointon, Mrs. F. Stansfield, Mrs. V. Thornton
1960-1961
Mrs. M. Butterill, Miss M. Collins, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. N. Hanley, C. Koch, Mrs. V. McLennan, Mrs. I. Pointon
1961-1962
Mrs. M. Butterill, Mrs. L. Gillet, J. Graham, Mrs. N. Hanley, A. Kozak, Mrs. V. McLennan, Mrs. B. Sigurdson
1962-1963
?
1963-1964
Mrs. M. L. Gaskin, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mr. P. Giuch, Mrs. N. Hanley, Mrs. J. Robertson, Mrs. F. Rowland, Mrs. B. Sigurdson, Mrs. S. Smith, Mrs. D. Youngstrom
1964-1965
?
1965-1966
?
1966-1967
Mrs. E. Berry, Miss M. A. Boymook, Mrs. J. Forbes, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. G. I. Hunter, A. Kuzyk, Miss G. Nachtigall, Mrs. F. Rowland, Mrs. M. Schmidt, I. Suprowich, Mrs. A. Sutton
1967-1968
Mrs. E. Berry, Miss M. Boymook, Miss S. Brown, Mrs. S. Essers, Mrs. J. Forbes, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. B. Morlock, Miss M. Peterman, Mrs. M. Redpath, I. Suprowich, Mrs. A. Sutton
1968-1969
Miss M. Boymook, Mrs. J. Dewson, Mrs. S. Essers, Mrs. L. Gillet, Mrs. P. Halim, Mrs. M. Little, Mrs. B. Morlock, Mrs. G. Neufeld, Miss M. Peterman, Mrs. S. Stephens, Mrs. I. Storey, I. Suprowich, Mrs. A. Sutton
Postcard view of Alexandra School (no date)
Source: Rob McInnes, WP1256.
Alexandra School (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Winnipeg - Schools - Alexandra.
Alexandra School (1902)
Source: Winnipeg School Division
Commemorative plaque for Alexandra School at the Winnipeg Convention Centre (November 2014)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88949, W97.14518
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: James Bertram Mitchell (1852-1945)
Manitoba Business: Kelly Brothers / Manitoba Construction Company / Kelly Brothers and Mitchell / Thomas Kelly and Sons
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Carlton School / South Central School (Graham Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Mary’s School (St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Alexandra School (College Avenue, Brandon)
“Opening of city schools,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 2 September 1899, page 4.
“Assignment of teachers,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 September 1900, page 1.
“Holidays end Tuesday next,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1901, page 10.
“The staff of city teachers,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 1 September 1902, page 3.
“City schools re-open Monday,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 August 1903.
“Inspection of cadets,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 November 1903, page 3.
“City schools open to-morrow,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1904, page 3.
“Assignment of Winnipeg teachers,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 September 1905.
“Changes in city schools,” Manitoba Free Press, 31 August 1907.
“Re-opening of schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1908, page 1.
“Teachers named for all schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 September 1910, page 3.
“Assignment of teachers for Winnipeg Schools which open on Sept. 15,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1911, page 9.
“City schools staff assembling in Sept.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1912, page 8.
“Opening of the Winnipeg public schools has been set for Monday next,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 August 1913, pages 1 and 2.
“Here’s your teacher!” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 August 1914, page 6.
“School Board assigns teachers,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1915, page 9.
“Reduce staff of teachers at high schools Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 August 1916, pages 1 & 12.
“Boundaries of schools are named,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 24 August 1917, page 9.
“Complete plans to open schools Tuesday for 30,000 children,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 30 August 1918, page 14.
“Teachers are selected for various grades,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1919, page 3.
“Winnipeg schools, No. 16—Alexandra,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 November 1922, page 19.
“Smoke-begrimed School. Many active in city’s life today attended Alexandra” by Claire Tisdale, Winnipeg Free Press, 29 January 1949.
We thank the Winnipeg School Division, Reid Dickie, and J. A. Melnyk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 18 April 2024
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