Historic Sites of Manitoba: Birchwood School (150 Moray Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

Birchwood School was designed in 1959 by the architectural firm of Libling Michener and Associates for the Assiniboine North School Division, taking its name from the surrounding residential development. Construction by the Roziere Construction Company began in the spring of 1959 and the school opened on 1 September 1959, with eight classes containing a total enrollment of 228 students. The school shared a Principal with Woodhaven School until 1967, having just a resident Vice-Principal until December 1961.

After the school closed, and the division merged with the St. James School Division, the building was used as a staff development centre by the St. James Assiniboia School Division.

Principals

Period

Principal

1959-1964

Paul Pura (1914-1999)

1964-1966

Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (1926-2012)

1966-1967

Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (1935-2017)

1967-1970

Walter Robert Barnes (c1930-1995)

1970-1972

James “Jim” Friesen

1972-1973

Jules Raymond “Jack” Van Den Bossche

1973-1977

Merrill Dalmer Groff (1933-2023)

Vice-Principals

Period

Vice-Principal

1959-1961

John Abram Neufeld (1927-2015)

1962-1977

None

Teachers

School Year

Teachers

1959-1960

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Mrs. Natalie Lenkewich (grade 5), Miss Maureen McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. Ethyl Sloan (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6)

1960-1961

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Miss M. McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. Mary B. Pass (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. V. Vandenberg (grade 6)

1961-1962

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Miss Donna Metcalfe (grade 6), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1962-1963

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Miss Edith Harder (grade 4), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1963-1964

Mrs. Marla-Jean Brickman (grade 2), Miss Maude Brown (grade 5), Mrs. E. A. Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 4), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1964-1965

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Wenda Engbrecht (grade 5), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 6), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. Ethel Prefontaine (grades 1-2), John Somerville (grade 6)

1965-1966

Mrs. B. Armstrong (grades 1-2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grades 3-4), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grade 3), John Somerville (grade 6)

1966-1967

Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Victor Krenz (grade 6), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grades 2-3), Mrs. Rosemary Sanduliak (grades 1-2), Miss G. Thiele (kindergarten)

1967-1968

Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Phyllis Digby (grade 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Miss Phyllis Petz (grade 2), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Miss Eleanor Preece (grade 2), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. S. Smulan (grade 6), Mrs. Ann Topping (grade 3), Mrs. Beverley Zakaluk (kindergarten)

1968-1969

Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Sandra Madson (grade 5), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Miss Margaret Naaykens (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Miss Leslie Quayle (grade 3)

1969-1970

Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Linea Doshen (grade 3), Mrs. Leslie Hoole (grade 4), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 4), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1970-1971

Mrs. Gillian Alexander (grade 4), Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 5), Mrs. Louise Buhr (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1971-1972

Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Miss Sandra Breckman (grade 6), Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Sylvia Klawis (grade 2), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Bonnie MeMurren (grade 4), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1972-1973

Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Boutelier (grade 4), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grade 2), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5), Jules Raymond “Jack” Van Den Bossche (grade 6)

1973-1974

Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 5), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Georgia Helen Purdy (Principal relief, 0.5), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grades 2-3), Earl Steven Turko (grade 4)

1974-1975

Barbara Lynn Blackman (grades 3-4), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Helen Mavis Pickett (grade 5), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grade 2), Earl Steven Turko (grade 6)

1975-1976

Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Nelson Way Hoe (grades 4-5), Carole Marie Locht (grades 1-2), Rosemary Anne Robertson (grade 6), Diane Janet Snyder (kindergarten, 0.5; resource, 0.5)

1976-1977

Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 5, 0.5), Nelson Way Hoe (grade 4), Barbara Lynn Blackman Howe (grades 2-3), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Diane Janet Snyder (kindergarten, 0.5; resource, 0.5), Marlene Sharon Whitley (grade 5 / Principal relief, 0.5)

Photos & Coordinates

The former Birchwood School building (October 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

The former Birchwood School building (September 2021)
Source: Nathan Kramer

The former Birchwood School building (September 2021)
Source: Nathan Kramer

The former Birchwood School building (September 2021)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87465, W97.26341
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

History of Birchwood School, St. James Assiniboia School Division, 1974.

School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Mari-Jean Nachtigall and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 November 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.

SEARCH the collection

Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other

Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.

Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.

Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!

Period	Principal
1959-1964	Paul Pura (1914-1999)
1964-1966	Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (1926-2012)
1966-1967	Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (1935-2017)
1967-1970	Walter Robert Barnes (c1930-1995)
1970-1972	James “Jim” Friesen
1972-1973	Jules Raymond “Jack” Van Den Bossche
1973-1977	Merrill Dalmer Groff (1933-2023)

Period	Vice-Principal
1959-1961	John Abram Neufeld (1927-2015)
1962-1977	None

School Year	Teachers
1959-1960	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Mrs. Natalie Lenkewich (grade 5), Miss Maureen McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. Ethyl Sloan (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6)
1960-1961	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Miss M. McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. Mary B. Pass (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. V. Vandenberg (grade 6)
1961-1962	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Miss Donna Metcalfe (grade 6), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1962-1963	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Miss Edith Harder (grade 4), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1963-1964	Mrs. Marla-Jean Brickman (grade 2), Miss Maude Brown (grade 5), Mrs. E. A. Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 4), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1964-1965	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Wenda Engbrecht (grade 5), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Joyce Patricia Hill (grade 6), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. Ethel Prefontaine (grades 1-2), John Somerville (grade 6)
1965-1966	Mrs. B. Armstrong (grades 1-2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grades 3-4), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grade 3), John Somerville (grade 6)
1966-1967	Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Victor Krenz (grade 6), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grades 2-3), Mrs. Rosemary Sanduliak (grades 1-2), Miss G. Thiele (kindergarten)
1967-1968	Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Phyllis Digby (grade 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Miss Phyllis Petz (grade 2), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Miss Eleanor Preece (grade 2), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. S. Smulan (grade 6), Mrs. Ann Topping (grade 3), Mrs. Beverley Zakaluk (kindergarten)
1968-1969	Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Sandra Madson (grade 5), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Miss Margaret Naaykens (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Miss Leslie Quayle (grade 3)
1969-1970	Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Linea Doshen (grade 3), Mrs. Leslie Hoole (grade 4), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 4), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1970-1971	Mrs. Gillian Alexander (grade 4), Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 5), Mrs. Louise Buhr (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1971-1972	Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Miss Sandra Breckman (grade 6), Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Sylvia Klawis (grade 2), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Mrs. Bonnie MeMurren (grade 4), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1972-1973	Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Boutelier (grade 4), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Georgia Helen Purdy (grade 6), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grade 2), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5), Jules Raymond “Jack” Van Den Bossche (grade 6)
1973-1974	Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 5), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Georgia Helen Purdy (Principal relief, 0.5), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grades 2-3), Earl Steven Turko (grade 4)
1974-1975	Barbara Lynn Blackman (grades 3-4), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Mabel Irene McAllister (kindergarten), Helen Mavis Pickett (grade 5), Sylvia Elizabeth Shore (grade 2), Earl Steven Turko (grade 6)
1975-1976	Barbara Lynn Blackman (grade 3), Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 6, 0.5), Nelson Way Hoe (grades 4-5), Carole Marie Locht (grades 1-2), Rosemary Anne Robertson (grade 6), Diane Janet Snyder (kindergarten, 0.5; resource, 0.5)
1976-1977	Merrill Dalmer Groff (grade 5, 0.5), Nelson Way Hoe (grade 4), Barbara Lynn Blackman Howe (grades 2-3), Carole Marie Locht (grade 1), Diane Janet Snyder (kindergarten, 0.5; resource, 0.5), Marlene Sharon Whitley (grade 5 / Principal relief, 0.5)