Historic Sites of Manitoba: Chapman School No. 1677 (3707 Roblin Boulevard, Winnipeg)

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

The Chapman School District was established formally in May 1913 and it operated a school near this site in the former Municipality of Charleswood, now a suburb of Winnipeg. The original school building was destroyed by fire in 1916. Its replacement, a three-room school, burned down on 23 April (Good Friday), 1943. Movable furniture and around 2,000 textbooks were spared from the flames by firefighters and local volunteers, including local K. Goodison who reportedly made 50 retrieval trips into the blazing building.

Following an affirming 175:44 vote by district residents, construction was undertaken by the Claydon Construction Company on a new Chapman School on the former building’s site. Excavation work for a full basement already underway by November 1943, and the cornerstone of the new six-room school was laid down before the years end. The brick and frame structure cost around $45,000 and was officially opened 30 September 1944, with noted attendees including Clifford Knox Rogers (Superintendent of Education), Harry Leader (MP), and H. A. Lowden (school trustee).

In 1951, it became part of Charleswood Consolidated School No. 2327, and in 1955, high school grades were transferred to the the newly opened Charleswood Collegiate. A commemorative plaque mounted on a rock at the northwest corner of the school’s property was dedicated in June 1993 by the Chapman School Parent Council. The school closed in June 2016, shortly after receiving an MHS Centennial Organization Award. As of early 2017, the building was under lease to the Westgate Mennonite School for use as temporary classroom space during a renovation project. In 2020, it was in use for a Sikh private school.

Principal (Chapman High School)

Period

Principal

1944-1951

Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (1899-1990)

1951-1952

?

1952-1953

Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (1907-1977)

1953-1955

Ernest Friesen Reimer (1909-1999)

After 1955

See Charleswood Collegiate

Teachers (Chapman High School)

School Year

Teachers

1944-1945

Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grades 10-11)

1945-1946

Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grades 10-11)

1946-1947

Ralph Johnson (grade 9), Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grades 10-11)

1947-1948

Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grades 9-10), Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grade 11)

1948-1949

Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grades 9-10), Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grade 11)

1949-1950

Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grades 9-10), Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grade 11)

1950-1951

Irene Crofts (grades 10-11), Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grade 9), Kristjan Bergthor Sigurdsson (grades 10-11, 1950)

1951-1952

Irene Crofts (grade 10), Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grade 11), Ernest Friesen Reimer (grade 9)

1952-1953

James William Gold Aitchison (grade 9), Archibald Martin “Archie” McNicholl (grade 11), Ernest Friesen Reimer (grade 10)

1953-1954

James William Gold Aitchison (grade 10), James Robert Hodge Forrester (grade 9), Ernest Friesen Reimer (grade 11)

1954-1955

James William Gold Aitchison (grade 11), James Robert Hodge Forrester (grade 10), Beulah Beryl McNevin (grade 9), Elizabeth Lois Norquay (grade 9) Ernest Friesen Reimer (grade 9)

1955 on

See Charleswood Collegiate

Principals (Chapman School)

Period

Principal

1934-1941

Hilda Grace Sparrow (1906-1999)

1941-1943

?

1943-1945

George Nelson Hawn (1913-1989)

1945-1954

?

1954-1955

Ernest Friesen Reimer (1909-1999)

1955-1956

Jemima Florence Webster

1956-1961

Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (1915-1995)

1961-1964

John Vanderstoel (1933-2013)

1964-1967

Erdman “Ed” Kroeker (1930-2014)

1967-1969

?

1970

John Duchominsky (1906-1977)

1971-1972

Peter Douglas Powell

1972-1975

Paul L. Gluck

1975-1980

William David “Dave” Beer

1980-1984

Harry Herbert Galan (1922-2007)

1984-1993

G. Barry Nelin

1993-1995

Leslie Chale

1995-1999

Janet Taylor

1999-2003

Stan Wiebe

2003-2006

Brenda Lanoway

2006-?

Cyndy Stewart

?-?

Tim Mendel

?-2015

Tannis MacDonald

2015-2016

Lorraine de Moyne Barton

Teachers (Chapman School)

School Year

Teachers

1939-1940

Jessie Ellen Morton (grades 4-6), Hilda Grace Sparrow (grades 7-9), Constance Margaret “Connie” Webster (grades 1-3)

1940-1941

Jessie Ellen Morton (grades 4-6), Hilda Grace Sparrow (grades 7-9), Constance Margaret “Connie” Webster (grades 1-3)

1941-1942

Bernice Porterfield Brimmell (grades 7-9), Constance Margaret “Connie” Webster (grades 1-3), Kathleen Louise White (grades 4-6)

1942-1943

Bernice Porterfield Brimmell (grades 1-3), Jean Winnifred Gower Livingstone Lower (grades 5-6), Kathleen Louise White (grades 7-9)

1943-1944

Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 1-2), Bernice Porterfield Brimmell (grades 3-4), George Nelson Hawn (grades 7-9), Jean Winnifred Gower Livingstone Lower (grades 5-6)

1944-1945

Bernice Porterfield Brimmell (grades 3-4), George Nelson Hawn (grades 8-9), Jean Winnifred Gower Livingstone Lower (grades 5-6), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grades 1-2), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grade 7), John Charles Mizibrocky (grades 8-9)

1945-1946

Jean Winnifred Gower Livingstone Lower (grades 4-5, 1945), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grade 1), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 6-8), John Charles Mizibrocky (grades 8-9), Eva May Pearson (grades 2-3), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 4-5, 1946)

1946-1947

Eva Eileen Duncan (grades 3-4), Elizabeth Jean Hunter (grade 1), Ralph Johnson (grade 9), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grade 2), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 7-8), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6)

1947-1948

Anna Elizabeth Fryer (grade 3), Elizabeth Jean Hunter (grade 1), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grades 2-3), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 7-8), Thelma Rose Irene Osman (grades 3-4), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6)

1948-1949

Phyllis Adeline Beaumont (grades 4-5), Elizabeth Jean Hunter (grade 1), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grade 2), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 7-8), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6), Nellye Mariette Wiens (grade 3)

1949-1950

Ruby Gladys Kathleen Gibson (grades 1 & 3), Elizabeth Jean Hunter (grade 1), Jennie Elizabeth McKitrick (grade 2), Lillian Mae Mitchell (grades 7-8), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grades 4-5), Nellye Mariette Wiens Smith (grade 3), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6)

1950-1951

S. Margaret Cantelon (grades 1-2), Anne Edith Cott (grade 3), Eva Cook (grade 2), Mary Jean Irene Gunn (grade 4), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 1), Ernest Friesen Reimer (grades 7-8), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grades 4-5), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6)

1951-1952

Virginia Dorothy Beatty Andrew (grade 7, 1951), S. Margaret Cantelon (grades 2-3), Christina Fraser (grade 2), Adelmar Friesen (grade 7, 1952), Ann Huch (grade 3), William Alfred McClymont (grade 8), Nellie McKenzie (grade 4), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 1), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grade 5), Clara Louise Thornton (grades 5-6)

1952-1953

Mary Badman (grades 3-4), Ruth Elizabeth Galbraith (grades 7-8), Katherine Mary Madill (grades 1-2), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grades 5-6)

1953-1954

Mary Badman (grades 3-4), Ruth Elizabeth Galbraith (grades 7-8), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 2), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grades 5-6), Joan Esmerilda Witaski (grade 1)

1954-1955

Mary Badman (grades 3-4), Ruth Elizabeth Galbraith (grades 7-8), Katherine Mary Madill (grades 1-2), Dorothy Mary Sheldrake (grades 5-6)

1955-1956

Mary Badman (grades 3-4), Ruth Elizabeth Galbraith (grade 8), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 2), Mary Charlotte Pinn McLachlan (grade 1), Jemima Florence Webster (grade 7), Harold William Winlaw (grades 5-6)

1956-1957

Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (grade 5), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Mary Badman (grade 4), Elsie Dugard (grade 3), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 2)

1957-1958

Marilyn Anderson (grade 3), Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (grade 6), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Mary Badman (grade 4), Arthur H. Juttner (grade 5), Katherine Mary Madill (grade 2)

1958-1959

Mary Badman (grade 4), Janice Barr (grade 2), Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (grade 6), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), Viola Evelyn Rankin (grade 5)

1959-1960

Shirley Jean Abbey (grade 6), Eileen Appleton (grade 5), Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (grade 7), Janice Helen Cavers (grade 2), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney (grade 4)

1960-1961

Shirley Jean Abbey (grade 6), Phyllis Helena Briefcliffe (grade 2, 1961), Constance Margaret Webster “Connie” Brooks (grade 7), Janice Helen Cavers (grade 2), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney (grade 4), John W. F. Tober (grade 5)

1961-1962

Clayton Brian “Clay” Bottrell (grade 5), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), Margaret Anne MacDonald (grade 2), Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney (grade 4), John VanderStoel (grade 6)

1962-1963

Clayton Brian “Clay” Bottrell (grade 5), Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney Burke (grade 4), Beatrice Arnetta Connon (grade 1), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), John VanderStoel (grade 6), Gladys Lillian Vigfusson (grade 2)

1963-1964

Clayton Brian “Clay” Bottrell (grade 5), Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney Burke (grade 4), Charlene Barbara Ferris (grade 1), Erdman “Ed” Kroeker (grade 6), Margaret Louise Sumner Kuharski (grade 3), Patricia Dianne Mann (grade 3), Barbara Lenore Ploner (grade 2)

1964-1965

Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney Burke (grade 5), Charlene Barbara Ferris (grade 1), Erdman “Ed” Kroeker (grade 6), Patricia Dianne Mann (grade 3), Lori Ann Miller (grade 4), Barbara Lenore Ploner (grade 2)

1965-1966

Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney Burke (grade 5), Charlene Barbara Edgeworth (grade 1), Erdman “Ed” Kroeker (grade 6), Patricia Dianne Mann (grade 3), Lori Ann Miller (grade 4), Barbara Lenore Ploner (grade 2)

1966-1967

Joanne Elizabeth Sweeney Burke (grade 5), Erdman “Ed” Kroeker (grade 6), Patricia Dianne Mann (grade 3), Karen Lorraine Moffatt (grade 1), Barbara Lenore Ploner (grade 2), Lori Ann Miller Regnier (grade 4)

1967-1968

Karen Lorraine Moffatt

1968-1969

Mrs. Braun, Miss Patzia[?], ? (other grades)

1969-1970

Mrs. Nuttall, ?

1970-1971

Mrs. Koshuluk, ?

1971-1972

Peter Douglas Powell, ?

1972-1973

?

1973-1974

?

1974-1975

?

1975-1976

?

1976-1977

Mrs. Graham (grade 4), ?

1977-1978

Mr. Ted Mickaniec (grade 5), ?

1978-1979

?

1979-1980

?

1980-1981

?

1981-1982

?

1982-1983

?

1983-1984

?

1984-1985

Ms. Andrew, ?

1985-1986

Miss Elaine Hansen, ?

1986-1987

Mr. Weber, ?

1987-1988

Miss Shawna Bradley, ?

1989-1990

Miss Shawna Bradley, Mrs. MacGregor, ?

1990-1991

Miss Shawna Bradley, Mrs. Kozak, ?

1991-1992

Miss Shawna Bradley, Mrs. Jaeger, ?

1992-1993

Miss Shawna Bradley, Mrs. Karen Kroft, ?

1993-1994

Miss Shawna Bradley, ?

1994-1995

Miss Shawna Bradley, ?

1995-1996

Mr. Ted Mickaniec, ?

1996-1997

?

1997-1998

?

1998-1999

?

1999-2000

?

2000-2001

?

2001-2002

?

2002-2003

?

2003-2004

?

2004-2005

?

2005-2006

?

2006-2007

?

2007-2008

?

2008-2009

?

2009-2010

?

2010-2011

?

2011-2012

?

2012-2013

?

2013-2014

?

2014-2015

?

2015-2016

?

Photos & Coordinates

The original Chapman School building

The original Chapman School building (no date)
Source: Len Van Roon

The Chapman School building after expansion

The Chapman School building after expansion (no date)
Source: Len Van Roon

A classroom inside Chapman School

A classroom inside Chapman School (no date)
Source: Len Van Roon

Chapman School

Chapman School (June 2020)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Chapman School playground commemorative plaque

Chapman School playground commemorative plaque (2010)
Plaque Location (lat/long): 49.87002, W97.26197
Source: City of Winnipeg

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86851, W97.26196
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: George Thomas Chapman (1861-1940)

Sources:

“Along the home front [Chapman School],” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 May 1943, page 3.

“Vote to replace burned school,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 October 1943, page 13.

“Building has already begun on new Chapman School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 November 1943, page 16.

“Cadet Corps inspected at Tuxedo on Friday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 1944, page 2.

“New Chapman School attractively designed,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 September 1944, page 2.

“Will attend opening of new Chapman School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 September 1944, page 3.

“Charleswood’s new school opened,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 October 1944, page 3.

“H. McIntosh addresses Home and School group,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 April 1945, page 2.

“Charleswood … Then and Now” by Brian Tinley, Oakwood: Charleswood Collegiate Yearbook, 1955-1956, page 36 [Charleswood School Library].

Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.

“Charleswood lists teachers,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 September 1954, page 3.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Chapman School District No. 1677 - Daily Registers, GR10356, Archives of Manitoba.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Charleswood Consolidated School District No. 2327 (Chapman School) - Daily Registers, GR10356, Archives of Manitoba.

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

Obituary [Jessie Ellen Morton], Winnipeg Free Press, 17 May 1995, page 34.

We thank Len Van Roon, Jill Paskewitz, Alan Mason, Steven Christianson, Ted Fransen, Karen McCreary, Don Cochrane, David Beer, Margaret Stimson, Ted Fransen, and Christopher Graham for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 11 February 2024

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