Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This Winnipeg elementary school in the River East School Division was built in 1970-1971. The two-storey school cost around $900,000 and was based on the designs of architectural firm Ward, Macdonald, Cockburn, McLeod, and McFeetors. Its design received a national showcase, earning one of five Canadian Education Showplace Awards in 1972. The philosophy behind the near-windowless facility was to offset the lack of natural lighting with open spaces and a warm environment conducive to learning. The school opened for classes in February 1971 and was officially opened on 13 May 1971. In June 1993, the school’s play structure was dedicated to former student Amber Vasas.
Renovations during 2023-2024 resulted in every classroom within the school having windows added.
Period
Principal
1970-1982
Edmund Gerhard “George” Wall
1982-1990
Guenter Strempler (1937-2024)
1990-1992
?
1992-1993
Arthur Ben “Art” Funk
1993-2014
?
2014
C. Anderson
2014-2021
?
2021-2024
Darlene Martineau
2024-2025
Margaret Fair
Period
Vice-Principal
1970-1978
None
1978-1990
Denis Eugene Roy
1990-2023
?
2023-2025
Nicole Ziemianski
Period
Teachers
1970-1971
Barbara Ethel May Armstrong (grade 5), Kenneth Herbert Avery (grade 6), Ardis Ann Brooker (kindergarten), Henry George Fast (grade 6), Sally Ann Figgures (grade 3), Valerie Jean Frost (grade 4), Patti Marguerite Johnson (grade 3), Marlene Ellen Barbara Klarke (kindergarten, 0.5 at Donwood School, 0.5 at Princess Margaret School), Betty Jean Bezak (grade 1), Lorraine Allison McFarlane (grade 2), Anna Fung-King Mak (library), Patricia Ann Scott (grade 1), Leslie Ann Shaw (grade 4), Christina Shirleen Small (grade 2), Jacqueline Joyce Smith (grade 4), Shirley Joyce Walker (grade 1), Tiny Lynne Kirby Wallace (grade 4), Alice Elaine Wiebe (grade 2), Imgard Ruth Ziemer (grade 5)
Donwood School (October 2014)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Donwood School (October 2024)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Donwood School (October 2024)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.94064, W97.06698
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Amber Vasas Memorial Park (63 Callum Crescent, Winnipeg)
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
School division student yearly attendance reports (E 0758A), Archives of Manitoba.
“Two building permits issued,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 July 1970, page 12.
“Donwood Elementary School,” by Allen Rouse, unknown publication clipping, July 1971. [Northeast Winnipeg Historical Society]
[Photo caption], Winnipeg Free Press Continuing Education, 9 September 1972, page 2.
“School receives design award,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 October 1972, page 54.
“Two child abduction tries reported,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 February 1978, page 1.
“Donwood School wins educational architectural achievement award for Canada,” Winnipeg Free Press New Leisure, 4 November 1972, pages 12 & 13.
“The English-German bilingual program [...],” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 March 1986, page 25.
“Donwood School celebrating 50th anniversary,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 January 2021.
We thank Lorie Battershill for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 11 January 2025
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