Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
Located on Third Avenue at Gimli, George Johnson School was commissioned by the Evergreen School Division to meet the local demand for more elementary classroom space. Architectural plans were acquired from MacLeod Webster and Berman and construction was undertaken by Delta Construction in 1967. The commemoration for the building was reached via a name-the-school contest sponsored by the Gimli Women’s Institute. The winning suggestion was for local physician and MLA George Johnson, the first Gimli-area individual to serve in the Provincial Cabinet, as Minister of Education at the time of this commemoration.
The school was opened officially on 29 March 1968 and the ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by kindergarten student Thor Stevens. The building was used for students in kindergarten through grade three, with grades four though six being held at Gimli Public School and grades seven and eight at Sigurbjorg Stefansson School. The school was built with an adjacent auditorium to the north, situated between George Johnson School and Sigurbjorg Stefansson School.
All three schools were often collectively known as the Gimli Elementary Schools until 1972 when the Gimli Junior High School opened in the former Gimli Public School. With the closure of Gimli Public School / Gimli Junior High School in 1974 (and transfer of those grades to Gimli Composite High School), both elementary facilities was renamed the Gimli Early and Middle Years Schools around 1990.
The replacement of the Sigurbjorg Stefansson School / Gimli Early Years School with the new Sigurbjorg Stefansson Early School and the demolition of the old school structure then afforded greater freedom at the site when considering options for the George Johnson School / Gimli Middle Years School and formerly-shared auditorium. Rather than build new, plans were made to heavily modify and update the existing school. Those plans, though revised and delayed, culimated in the extensively renovated school being officially marked on 31 May 2010 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Nancy Allan (Minster of Education) and Peter Bjornson (Minister of Entrepreneurship). The $2.6 million renovations entailed an expanded gymnasium and redeveloped school courtyard and entrance areas, educational spaces, roofing, windows, and utilities. Grades five through eight were taught in the school.
Since 2010, and no longer sharing the same grounds with other schools, the facility is known as the Dr. Geoge Johnson Middle School.
Period
Supervising Principal
1967-1972
Period
Vice-Principal
1967-1972
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Teachers
1967-1968
Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Elizabeth May Finnson (grade 2), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Daisy Gudrun Isfjord (grade 1), Shirley Vigdes Kudor (grade 3), Ladine Fredricka Luprypa (grade 3), Leonette Rowe (kindergarten), Julia Louise Sorokowski (grade 3), Sharon Dianne TenBrince (grade 2), Sister Donna Marie Warner (grade 1), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1), Donna My Zakaluk (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Gimli Public School & Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Valencia Shirley Johnson (music), Winifred McPherson (special education, ungraded), Donald Keith Tremaine (physical education)1968-1969
Claire Adams (grade 2), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Elizabeth May Finnson (grade 2), Jocelyn Hayka (grade 1), Christine Margaret Louise Isfeld (grade 2), Daisy Gudrun Isfjord (grade 1), Shirley Vigdes Kudor (grade 3), Theresa LeBlanc (grade 3, October-June), Ladine Fredricka Luprypa (grade 3), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Leonette Rowe (kindergarten), Julia Louise Sorokowski (grade 3, September-October), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1), Brenda May Zebrynski (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Gimli Public School & Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Linda Jean Gernack (special education, mentally handicapped), Valencia Shirley Johnson (music), Donald Keith Tremaine (physical education), Sandra Jean Tremaine (physical education)1969-1970
Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Sister Clare Mary Gilmore (grades 2-3), Jocelyn Hayka (grade 1), Cheryl Ann Orr Hunter (guidance), Judith Ann Lesnick Hutchison (grade 2), Christine Margaret Louise Isfeld (grade 2), Shirley V. Kudor (grade 3), Ladine Fredricka Luprypa (grade 3), Carol Anne McBride (grade 1), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Marlene Elizabeth Quigley (kindergarten), Natalie Surminski (grade 3), Margaret Jean Wawrykow (grade 2), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1), Brenda May Zebrynski (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Gimli Public School & Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Diljeet Malki Dulat (guidance), Linda Jean Gernack (special education), Betty Mae Gingrich (ungraded, educable mentally handicapped), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Sister Lena Renaud (French and home economics), Patricia Walters (music)1970-1971
Alvina Mae Bennett (grade 1), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Sister Clare Mary Gilmore (grade 2), Betty Mae Gingrich (grade 3, November-June), Judith Ann Lesnick Hutchison (grade 2), Kerry Andrea Knelman (grade 2), Shirley V. Kudor (grade 3), Ladine Fredricka Luprypa (grade 3), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Shayla Phyllis Moglove (grade 3, September-November), Grace Packulak (grade 1), Marlene Elizabeth Quigley (kindergarten), Mary Lynn Stokotelny (grade 1), Marlene Shirley Wagner (grade 1), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Gimli Public School & Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Myra Shirley Gillis (guidance), Kit Ross Grant (guidance), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Sister Lena Renaud (French), Natalie Surminski (special education, educable mentally handicapped), Shirley Elizabeth Zinman (resource)1971-1972
Alvina Mae Bennett (kindergarten), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Betty Mae Gingrich (grades 2-3), Shirley V. Kudor (grade 3), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grades 1-2), Grace Packulak (grades 1-3), Nikki Lei Vogt (grade 1), Emily Dern Yurchi (grade 3), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Gimli Public School & Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Julia Louise Bernard (no grade), Myra Shirley Gillis (guidance), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Janice Lola Olafson (music), Sister Lena Renaud (French), Natalie Surminski (special education, educable mentally handicapped), Shirley Elizabeth Zinman (resource)
Period
Supervising Principal
1972-1976
Michael William “Mike” Moroz (1923-1991)
1976-?
Morris Kustiak
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Vice-Principal
1972-1979
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Teachers
1972-1973
Alvina Mae Bennett (grade 1), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Betty Mae Gingrich (grade 1), Nikki Lei Vogt Goletski (grade 1), Christine Margaret L. Isfeld (grade 3, March-June), Shirley V. Kudor (grade 3, September-March), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Grace Packulak (grade 2), Maria Pona (grade 2), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Daniel Walter Luprypa (guidance), Olof Gudrun Margaret McMahon (resource), Sister Lena Renaud (French), Kathryn Judith Stockmal (music)1973-1974
Alvina Mae Bennett (grade 1), Mary Matilda Carlson (kindergarten), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Christine Margaret L. Isfeld (grade 3), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Grace Packulak (grade 2), Maria Pona (grade 2), Kathryn Judith Stockmal (grade 1), Natalie Sucharyna (grade 3), Emily Dern Yurchi (grade 3), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Margaret Rose Chambers (resource), Betty Mae Gingrich (special education, educable mentally handicapped), Marlene Kolisnyk (music), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Daniel Walter Luprypa (guidance), Sister Lena Renaud (French), Alma Sigurdson (no grade)1974-1975
Alvina Mae Bennett (kindergarten), Donna Burch (grade 1), Kerry Andrea Campbell (grade 1), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Elizabeth Mary Finnson (grade 2), Christine Margaret L. Isfeld (grade 3), Ellen Gudrun Magnusson (grade 2), Grace Packulak (grade 2), Irene Eva Sohan (grade 3), Emily Dern Yurchi (grade 3), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Betty Mae Gingrich (special education, educable mentally handicapped), Nettie Kichuk (resource), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Daniel Walter Luprypa (guidance), Karen Elaine Orchard (music), Sister Lena Renaud (French)1975-1976
Alanna Denette Charlene Benedictson (grade 1), Alvina Mae Bennett (kindergarten), Bernice Eileen Fines (kindergarten), Elizabeth Mary Finnson (grade 2), Christine Margaret L. Isfeld (grade 3), Sandra Lee McDonald (grade 1), Grace Packulak (grade 2), Irene Eva Sohan (grades 2-3), Olga Helen Szumik (grade 2), Lillian Wlosek (grade 1).
“Gimli Elementary Schools” shared staff with Sigurbjorg Stefansson School: Betty Mae Gingrich (special education, educable mentally handicapped), Nettie Kichuk (resource), Leslie “Les” Kudor (physical education), Daniel Walter Luprypa (guidance), Sister Lena Renaud (French), Eunice Joyce Timgrem (no grade)
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Principal
1992-1997
Thor Johannson
1997-1999
Donna Kormilo
No information.
No information.
Period
Principal
2000-2002
Joe Mudry
2002-2003
Tim Leary
2003-2005
?
2005-2010
Jim Gibbs
2010-2022
?
2022-2023
Jamie Gilbart
Period
Vice-Principal
2002-2003
Bill Laing
2003-2022
?
2022-2023
Justin Charrier
No information.
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.63488, W96.98817
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: MacLeod and Reimer / MacLeod Webster and Berman
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Gimli Public School No. 585 (74 Second Avenue, Gimli, RM of Gimli)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Gimli Composite High School / Gimli High School (74 Second Avenue, Gimli, RM of Gimli)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Gimli High School / Gimli School No. 2 / Sigurbjorg Stefansson School (Third Avenue, Gimli, RM of Gimli)
“Gimli parent-teacher night,” Arborg Lake Centre News, 24 November 1967, page 1.
“Gimli school official opening,” Arborg Lake Centre News, 15 March 1968, page 1.
“Public school actors delight at Gimli,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 April 1968, page 6.
“George Johnson School and gymnasium opened at Gimli,” Arborg Lake Centre News, 12 April 1968, pages 1 and 5.
“Mrs. Ellen Magnusson honoured on retirement,” Arborg Lake Centre News, 29 July 1975, page 3.
Gimli Saga, The History of Gimli, Manitoba by the Gimli Women's Institute, 1975.
“[Photo caption],” Arborg Lake Centre News, 20 September 1977, page 12.
“Gimli school honors teachers,” Arborg Lake Centre News, 17 July 1979, page 4.
“[Photo caption],” Interlake Spectator, 11 April 1990, page 9.
“Heritage group seeks to save old Gimli school,” Interlake Spectator, 11 September 1991, page 11.
“Evergreen School Division #22 [...],” Interlake Spectator, 12 December 1994, page 45.
“Read all about it!” Interlake Spectator, 10 February 1997, page 11.
“To hire or not to hire,” Interlake Spectator, 19 May 1997, page 17.
“Come & go retirement tea [...],” Interlake Spectator, 16 June 1997, page 31.
“468 - Teachers wanted - Evergreen School Division No. 22,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 May 1999, page D8.
“Constrution almost underway,” Interlake Spectator, 28 August 2000, page 10.
“New GEMYS principal,” Interlake Spectator, 28 August 2000, page 10.
“Full name considered more appropriate by teachers' lobby,” Interlake Spectator, 29 October 2001, page 11.
“Breakfast program marks fifth year,” Interlake Spectator, 25 November 2002, page 32.
“On the move,” Interlake Spectator, 10 March 2003, page 5.
“Evergreen initiatives mirror province’s,” Interlake Spectator, 7 March 2004, page 15.
“Changing of the guard,” Interlake Spectator, 25 March 2005, page 15.
“Evergreen students will read their way to school,” Interlake Spectator, 15 February 2008, page 15.
“Invitation to pre-qualify general contractors - Dr. George Johnson Middle School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 February 2008, page C13.
“Education minister marks ‘renos day’,” Interlake Spectator, 4 June 2010, pages 1 and 3.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
Manitoba School Records Collection, Gimli School District No. 585 (Gimli High School) Daily Registers, GR6124, Archives of Manitoba.
Manitoba Local Government Boundaries Commission, Schools in the Interlake - Manitoba - Volume 1 - File 20A George Johnson, March 1968, Archives of Manitoba.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 5 May 2023
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