Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
The short 13-year lifespan of Columbus School can be seen as an ambitious educational experiment that was ultimately doomed by declining student enrollment.
The single-storey building was designed around the “open air concept” that was popular at that time by the architectural firm of Ward and Macdonald. It was built in late 1960 by the B. F. Klassen Construction Company. The exterior was covered liberally with wooden shakes that gave the building a warm, cottage-like appearance. Inside, a large, open space accommodated thirteen classes, an enclosed academic centre, and an open library centre. Separate enclosed spaces were provided for a kindergarten class, multi-purpose room, preparation room, resource room, staff room, and gymnasium with changing rooms and washrooms. Offices for the principal, secretary, nurse, and physical education teacher rounded out the facility.
The school opened for classes in January 1970. An official opening ceremony was held on 25 March 1970 and a cornerstone ceremony occurred on 23 September 1970. At the time it opened, the student body numbered 270 from kindergarten to grade six. By 1974, it accommodated 317 students of the designed maximum capacity of 350. However, by the early 1980s, enrollment had dwindled to about 150. The St. James-Assiniboia School Division decided to close the school permanently in June 1982.
The building sat vacant for several years and was eventually sold to a land development company, which demolished it in early 1994. Private residences were built on the site.
Period
Principal
1969-1975
Alice Marie Rousseau Perras (1918-1983)
1975-1979
William H. “Bill” Engbrecht
1979-1981
Wallace Brian “Wally” Linton (1935-2024)
1981-1982
Anne Masniuk
School Year
Teachers
1969-1970
Barbara Anning Bateman, Sharon Benjaminson, Loraine Boisjoli, James Komenda, Gail MacDonald, Lynn Maciejko, Dorothy Minaker, Marie Pilek, Tanis Waters Rebettoy, Carol McCaughan Regnier, Inez E. Roberts, Marsha Blumenthal Schwartzman
1970-1971
Barbara Anning Bateman, Sharon Benjaminson, Loraine Boisjoli, Suzanne Dowdall, Noreen Enns Gabic, James Komenda, Gail MacDonald, Lynn Maciejko, Tanis Waters Rebettoy, Carol McCaughan Regnier, Marsha Blumenthal Schwartzman, Sharon Weselowski
1971-1972
Barbara Anning Bateman, Sharon Benjaminson, Suzanne Dowdall, Donald B. Falk, Noreen Enns Gabic, Carolyn Gardiner, Liisa Ikonen, Deborah Loader Johnson, Gail MacDonald, Lynn Maciejko, Donna Batters Nentwig, Carol McCaughan Regnier, Robert Watson, Sharon Weselowski
1972-1973
Phyllis Adam, Cecile Brown, Linda Daniels, Suzanne Dowdall, Donald B. Falk, Noreen Enns Gabic, Carolyn Gardiner, Gail MacDonald, Donna Batters Nentwig, Ethel Perchaluk, Carol McCaughan Regnier, Elizabeth Bradley Trevenen, Linda Warkentin, Robert Watson, Sharon Weselowski
1973-1974
Phyllis Adam, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Linda Daniels, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Suzanne Dowdall, Marcia Elias, Shirley Lynch, Gail MacDonald, Donna Batters Nentwig, Ethel Perchaluk, Elizabeth Bradley Trevenen, Linda Warkentin, Robert Watson, Sharon Weselowski, Jean Ann Woods
1974-1975
Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Linda Daniels, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Diane Desilets, Suzanne Dowdall, Marcia Elias, Sharon Kempa, Nancy Kolafa, Shirley Lynch, Donna Batters Nentwig, Ethel Perchaluk, Nancy Wright Reimer, Elizabeth Bradley Trevenen, Robert Watson, Jean Ann Woods
1975-1976
Robert Bastable, Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Linda Daniels, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Diane Desilets, Marcia Elias, Lorraine Hebert, Nancy Kolafa, Shirley Lynch, Ethel Perchaluk, Nancy Wright Reimer, Elizabeth Bradley Trevenen
1976-1977
Robert Bastable, Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Linda Daniels, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Diane Desilets, Lorraine Hebert, Linda Irwin, Mylah Kroeker, Shirley Lynch, William Marshall, Ethel Perchaluk, Nancy Wright Reimer, Elizabeth Bradley Trevenen
1977-1978
Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Diane Desilets, Lorraine Hebert, Linda Irwin, Shirley Lynch, Ethel Perchaluk, Nancy Wright Reimer, Diane Snider, Marlene Wreggit
1978-1979
Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Lorraine Hebert, Linda Irwin, Donna Morgan, Ethel Perchaluk, Nancy Wright Reimer, Marlene Wreggit
1979-1980
Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Robert Burch, Annie Cairns, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Lorraine Hebert, Linda Irwin, Brenda Mason Lawson, Donna Morgan
1980-1981
Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Annie Cairns, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Bruce Dearlove, Linda Irwin, Donna Morgan, Debbie White, Anne Williams
1981-1982
Philip Bleeks, Ruth Breckman, Cecile Brown, Ruth Carruthers, Bonnie Triggs Davies, Bruce Dearlove, Linda Irwin, Barbara Lee, Glynis Poroznuk
Teaching staff of Columbus School (circa 1974)
Source: Heather BredinSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86820, W97.29625
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Prain and Ward / Ward and Macdonald / Macdonald, Cockburn, McLeod, and McFeetors / MCM Architects
Manitoba Business: B. F. Klassen Construction Company
“Former schools’ buyers face rezoning hurdles,” Winnipeg Free Press, 15 March 1994, page 25.
We thank the St. James-Assiniboia School Division and Heather Bredin for providing information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 27 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.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion 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.Help us keep history alive!
