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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This Winnipeg school was approved in May 1974 and built in 1976 on designs of the local architectural firm of Pratt Lindgren Snider Tomcej and Associates. Originally given the name of Nakomis Elementary School, the steel frame and masonry facility was renamed for St. Vital School Board Chairman Donald Willis Penner. Completed at a cost of $676,000, including $36,000 from the City of Winnipeg for a larger gymnasium and shower facilities, the Kindergarten to grade six school opened in the St. Vital School Division in the Fall of 1976 with capacity for around 250 students. It was opened officially on 8 December 1976.
In 1977, the building was expanded, on a design by the same architectural firm, at an approximate cost of $400,000, thereby raising its capacity to 400 students.
It became part of the Louis Riel School Division in 2002.
Period
Principal
1976-1981
Victoria Mosquin Olchowecki
1981-?
Simon “Cy” Nimchuk (1933-2020)
?-1985
?
1985-1989
Eileen Connery Wilson (1929-2006)
1989-2003
?
2003-?
Glenda Lechner
?-2015
?
2015-2024
Richard Rajotte
School Year
Teachers
1976-1977
Frances Jean Kaltsikes (library), Cheryl Lynn Kozak Kehler (kindergarten), David Eugene Nordin (physical education), Eva Katalin Patrician (grades 1-2), Anita Cecile Legault Peters (grade 3), Shelagh Lesley Powell (grade 4), Susan Marie Quinn (grade 2), Joy Ann Riglin (grade 1), Barton Alexander Smith (grade 6), Shelley Eve Struthers (resource), Philippe Elie Trottier (grade 5)
1977-1978
Elizabeth Anwal? Hoskins (kindergarten & resource), Frances Jean Kaltsikes (library), Cheryl Lynn Kozak Kehler (kindergarten), Marie-Louise Hout-Mazur (grades 1-2), David Eugene Nordin (grade 6), Eva Katalin Patrician (grades 1-2), Anita Cecile Legault Peters (grade 3), Shelagh Lesley Powell (grade 4), Susan Marie Quinn (grade 2), Joy Ann Riglin (grade 1), Barton Alexander Smith (physical education), Philippe Elie Trottier (grade 5)
1978-1979
Heather McNichol Brown (grades 1-2), Reesa Pearl Cohen (library), Norma Olive Drosdowech (kindergarten), Margaretha Dawn Funk (grades 1-2), Judith Margaret Goodman (grade 3), Elizabeth Anwal? Hoskins (kindergarten & resource), Cheryl Lynn Kozak Kehler (kindergarten), Julie Ann Kniskern (grades 5-6), Laurette Jeannette Moir (grade 2), David Eugene Nordin (physical education), Eva Katalin Patrician (grade 1), Anita Cecile Legault Peters (French), Shelagh Lesley Powell (grade 4), Susan Marie Quinn (grade 2), Joy Ann Riglin (grade 3), Barton Alexander Smith (grade 6), Philippe Elie Trottier (grades 4-5)
1979-1980
Heather McNichol Brown (grades 1-2), Reesa Pearl Cohen (library), Margaretha Dawn Funk (grade 1), Judith Margaret Goodman (music), Bernice Marjorie Hoshowski (grade 3), Dolores Elaine Horn (grade 5), Cheryl Lynn Kozak Kehler (kindergarten), Donna Eula Konoski (grade 3, September-June), Carol A. Larson (kindergarten), Gillian Moats (French), Laurette Jeannette Moir (grade 2), David Eugene Nordin (grade 4), Penny Lynn Olafson (physical eduation), Eva Katalin Patrician (grade 1), Anita Cecile Legault Peters (grade 3), Alvina Mae Poersch (special education), Susan Marie Quinn (grade 2, August-September), Barton Alexander Smith (grade 6), Shelley Eve Struthers (resource), Philippe Elie Trottier (grades 4-5)
1980-1981
Simone Doris Bachinsky (French), Heather McNichol Brown (grades 1-2), Reesa Pearl Cohen (library), Margaretha Dawn Funk (grade 1), John Cameron Galbraith (physical education), Judith Margaret Goodman (music), Dolores Elaine Horn (grade 5), Bernice Marjorie Hoshowski (grade 3), Donna Eula Konoski (grade 2), Geraldine Frances Mayes (kindergarten), Laurette Jeannette Moir (grade 2), David Eugene Nordin (grade 4), Eva Katalin Patrician (grade 1), Anita Cecile Legault Peters (grade 3), Alvina Mae Poersch (special education), Shelagh Lesley Powell (grades 4-5), Barton Alexander Smith (grade 6), Paula Stryk (physical education), Shelley Eve Struthers (resource), Philippe Elie Trottier (grade 4), Kathleen Louise Walker (kindergarten)
1981-1982
?
1982-1983
?
1983-1984
?
1984-1985
?
1985-1986
Mr. B. Dunbar (grade 6), Mrs. J. Goodman (grade 6), ?
1986-1987
Mr. B. Dunbar (grade 6), Mrs. J. Goodman (grade 6), ?
Dr. D. W. Penner School (September 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Dr. D. W. Penner School (June 2020)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Dr. D. W. Penner School (August 2020)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.82396, W97.10914
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Pratt Lindgren Snider Tomcej and Associates
Memorable Manitobans: Donald Willis Penner (1918-2004)
“New school for St. Vital,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 1974, page 3.
“Grant of $130,000 for schools urged,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 July 1975, page 3.
“Tender,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 December 1975, page 75.
“School-opening slated,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 December 1976, page 3.
“Tenders addition to Dr. D. W. Penner Elementary School St. Vital School Division No. 6,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1977, page 139.
“St. Vital School Division No. 6,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 November 1977, page 57.
“She’s been a fighter,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly South Edition, 5 March 1989, page 7.
“St. Vital School Div. No. 6 [Victoria Mosquin Olchoecki],” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 April 1989, page 28.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), GR1196, Archives of Manitoba.
Obituary [Anita Peters], Winnipeg Free Press 15 January 2022, page C13.
We thank Doug Humphreys, Rose Kuzina, and Victor Krenz for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 12 October 2024
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