Historic Sites of Manitoba: John Dafoe School (1777 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

A cornerstone for John Dafoe School was laid by school trustee Catherine Stewart at a ceremony on 19 June 1957. Named for journalist John W. Dafoe, the building’s original configuration consisted of eight classrooms, two kindergarten rooms, a general purpose room, and ancillary space. A portrait of Dafoe was presented to the school by Edwin Elcome “Ted” Dafoe at its official opening on 14 November 1957 with School board Chairman H. B. Parker. Four classrooms were added in 1959. It was partially damaged in an arson fire on 15 December 1977. The school closed in June 1991 due to declining enrollment and, in 2010, the building was leased for use as a daycare.

Principals

Period	Principal
1957-1962	Franklin Edward “Frank” Bothe (1908-2002)
1962-1973	Victor Snelgrove Dotten (1908-1977)
1973-1975	Clifford Ronald Wilde
1975-1978	Phyllis I. Moore
1978-1980	Donna M. D. Wilson-Kives
1980-1982	Janet E. Redgwell
1982-1983	Karen J. Collin
1983-1987	D. R. Long
1987-1989	Marlene A. Watson
1989-1991	Maureen Robertson

Teachers

Period	Teachers
1957-1958	A. Braun, Miss T. Brenden, Mrs. V. Galston, Mrs. G. Glinz, Mrs L.? Sinclair, Mrs. P. Swan, Miss M. E. Thomas, Mr. R. Turner
1958-1959	A. Braun, Miss T. Brenden, Mrs. V. Galston, Mrs. G. Glinz, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Mrs. P. Swan, Miss M. E. Thomas, Mr. R. Turner
1959-1960	Ronald Walter Baron, Mrs. T. E. Campbell, Miss L. De Grunchy, Miss L. Galger, Mrs. H. V. Galston, Mrs. G. Glinz, Mrs. J. Huston, Mrs. E. Kelley, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Miss M. Thomas, Mrs. R. F. Turner, Mrs. E. D. Wiggins. Intermediate Department: Mrs. J. Purtill
1960-1961	Ronald Walter Baron, Mrs. T. Derkarn?, Miss M. Driol, Miss D. Drummond, Miss L. Galger, Mrs. G. Glinz, Mrs. G. Goodridge, Mrs. J. Hryciw, Mrs. M. Lowe, Mrs. G. Ryan, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Nellie Sozansky, Mrs. A. Seraphin?, Miss D. Stanish
1961-1962	Ronald Walter Baron, Miss I. Bothwell, Miss F. Bryk, Mrs. D. Cochrane, Miss M. Driol, Miss L. Galger, Mrs. G. Glinz, Mrs. G. Goodridge, Mrs. J. Hryciw, Mrs. M. Lowe, Mrs. F. Rowland, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Nellie Sozansky, Miss D. Stanish
1962-1963	(incomplete) Miss I. Bothwell, Mrs. G. Goodridge, Mrs. M. Lowe, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Nellie Sozansky
1963-1964	Mrs. E. M. Alrth, Miss L. Bothwell, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Mrs. H. Greene, J. Hamm, Miss E. Hunter, Mrs. M. Lowe, Miss M. North, Miss S. Peters, Miss H. Reimer, Miss J. Simcoe, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Nellie Sozansky, Miss A. Steen
1964-1965	Mrs. M. Airth, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Mrs. J. Horton, Miss E. Hunter, W. D. Illsey, Mrs. M. Lowe, Mrs. N. Nordlinger, Miss M. North, Miss S. Peters, Miss H. Reimer, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Nellie Sozansky, Miss A. Steen, Mrs. I. Telfer
1965-1966	Mrs. E. M Airth, J. D. Caldwell, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Miss E. Hunter, D. W. Illsey, Mrs. M. Lowe, Miss L. Lyon, Mrs. N. Nordlinger, Miss M. North, Miss H. Reimer, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Mrs. I. Slobodian, Nellie Sozansky, Miss A. Steen, Mrs. I. Telfer
1966-1967	Mrs. E. M. Airth, J. D. Caldwell, Mrs. M. Clearwater, Miss P. Frank, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Miss E. Hunter, D. W. Illsey, Mrs. M. Lowe, Miss H. Reimer, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Mrs. I. Slobodian, Nellie Sozansky, Miss A. Steen, Mrs. I. Telfer
1967-1968	Mrs. E. M. Airth, Mrs. S. Bloomquist, D. Caldwell, Mrs. M. Clearwater, Miss S. Dueck, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Miss E. Hunter, D. Illsey, Mrs. M. Lowe, Miss H. Reimer, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Miss A. Steen, Mrs. I. Telfer
1968-1969	Mrs. M. Airth, Mrs. I. Avery, Mrs. S. Bloomquist, D. Caldwell, Miss S. Dueck, Mrs. I. Goodridge, Miss E. Hunter, D. Illsey, Miss J. Lesnick, Mrs. M. Lowe, Miss H. Reimer, Mrs. L. Sinclair, Miss A. Steen, Mrs. I. Telfer

Photos & Coordinates

The former John Dafoe School building (July 2016) Source: Nathan Kramer Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.85715, W97.19961 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Wesley Dafoe (1866-1944)

Sources:

“Cornerstone is laid for John Dafoe School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 June 1957, page 25.

“School posts filled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1973, page 74.

“School staff shuffled,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly, 2 July 1989, page SW3.

Winnipeg School Division: Celebrating One Hundred Fifty Years, 1871-2021 by Winnipeg School Division, 2021.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 6 July 2022

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. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion 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. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!