Historic Sites of Manitoba: La Verendrye School (290 Lilac Street, Winnipeg)

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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

La Verendrye School, one of Winnipeg’s grandest old schools from the boomtown era, is set perfectly between Jessie Avenue and Warsaw Avenue on Lilac Street. Though residential and business areas quickly grew up around it, when it opened in 1909 La Verendrye School was on the outskirts of the developing city. Reporting on the school’s cornerstone laying on 8 July 1909 by Ward 1 Trustee F. C. Hubbard, the Manitoba Free Press wrote, “Yesterday visitors journeyed to the ground or within 100 yards of it by electric car and found there was still something of Winnipeg beyond them, though the streets lose some of their garb of traffic and dwellings are hidden in areas of native bush.”

Based on a design by School Division Architect and Commissioner of School Buildings J. B. Mitchell and constructed of local brick and limestone, La Verendrye School is a commingling of Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival and Classical Revival architectural styles. Among La Verendrye School’s near-century of alumni, you will find Terry Fox’s father, Rolly and artist Nathan Carlson. The centenary of La Verendrye School, now a French immersion elementary school, occurred in 2009.

A school has an Honour Roll of students and staff killed during the First World War, commissioned in 1916 by school principal William Henry Clipperton who later enlisted and was killed in action.

Principals

Period	Principal
1909-1911	David Merritt Duncan (1870-1951)
1911-1912	William Ewart Gladstone Grant (1884-1935)
1912-1916	William Henry Clipperton (1886-1917)
1916-1943	Alfred Dickson (1876-1957)
1943-1950	Marion Elizabeth MacAulay (1890-1974)
1950-1954	George Edward Whitlaw (1904-1996)
1954-1964	Myrtle Rietta Conway (1908-2005)
1964-1970	Hilda Kinney Ellis (1905-1987)
1970-1973	Irmgard Epp (c1929-1983)
1973-?	Herbert Lawrence Walter “Herb” Nemish (c1923-2012)
?-1977	?
1977-1983	Vernon “Vern” Peters (c1927-1998)
1983-?	?
?-2005	Marie-France Gaisson
c2021	Ruth Schappert

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1909-1910	?
1910-1911	William Fletcher Loucks, Sydney Ashton Campbell, Miss A. L. Brunsterman, Elsie Elizabeth Moore, Miss B. M. Clark, Miss E. Mary McDougall, Miss Clara Groff, Miss C. A. Brydon, Miss E. J. Robertson, Miss M. H. Acheson, Miss J. Leckie, Miss Olive Bishop
1911-1912	Elementary Department: Miss M. Sittlington, Miss C. Groff, Miss E. Thompson, Miss E. J. Robertson, Miss M. H. Acheson, Miss J. Leckie, Miss O. Bishop. Collegiate Department: William Fletcher Loucks, James Stockdale Little, Miss A. L. Brunsterman, Miss B. Clark, Miss E. Moore, Miss E. M. MacDougall, Miss G. Edwards
1912-1913	Miss C. L. Groff, Miss M. Acheson, Miss E. Annis, Miss E. Thompson, Miss E. J. Robertson, Miss A. Groff, Miss Nellie Young, Miss E. Holiday, Miss O. Bishop, Miss Ethel Morrison
1913-1914	Miss B. Leitch, Miss Edith Duddles, Miss A. Groff, Miss E. Holiday, Miss M. Madill, Miss Nellie Young, Miss E. Robertson, Miss E. Thompson, Miss M. Gall, Miss M. H. Acheson, Miss C. Groff
1914-1915	Marguerite Maley Elliott, Miss M. Acheson, Miss E. Thompson, Miss E. Robertson, Miss M. Drummond, Miss M. Madill, Miss A. Roberts, Miss A. Groff, Miss Nora Lane, Miss E. Duddles, Miss M. Staples, Miss B. Leitch, Miss Gladys Featherstone
1915-1916	C. Groff, M. Acheson, E. Thompson, E. Robertson, M. Madill, A. Roberts, A. Groff, N. Lane, M. Staples, E. Duddles, B. Leach, G. Featherstone, K. Gowanlock
1916-1917	Effie Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson, M. H. Acheson, E. Robertson, A. E. Roberts, M. Madill, A. H. Groff, N. Lane, M. G. Staples, E. Duddles, B. A. Lietch
1917-1918	Effie Thompson, M. H. Acheson, A. E. Roberts, H. M. Ewing, W. Andrews, L. Main, A. Groff, N. Lane, E. M. Hickie, E. Duddles, B. A. Leitch, B. Stevens
1918-1919	Effie Thompson, M. Acheson, A. E. Roberts, E. Brady, A. Groff, N. Lane, D. Cuthbert, E. M. Hickie, A. Gibson, E. M. Duddles, B. Stevens, D. Brady, J. Haxley
1919-1920	D. Brady, E. Brady, I. Burke, E. M. Coke, D. Cuthbert, L. Crawford, A. Gossett-Jackson, J. Haxley, E. M. Hickie, A. E. Roberts, B. Stevens
1920-1921	?
1921-1922	E. M. Anthony, I. Burke, D. Brady, E. Coke, D. Cuthbert, J. Connoghan, A. H. Groff, J. Haxley, E. Hickie, C. Hodkinson, G. Silcock, M. Scott, J. A. Small, H. Willson
1922-1923	E. Anthony, D. Brady, I. Burke, E. Coke, A. Groff, J. Connoghan, C. Hodkinson, E. M. Hickie, M. Scott, E. Spencer, J. A. Small, H. Willson, H. Wahn, I. Young
1923-1924	E. Anthony, D. Brady, E. Coke, I. Burke, A. Groff, E. Hickie, O. Hodkinson, M. Liston, M. Scott, E. Spencer, J. A. Small, J. B. Duncan
1924-1925	E. Anthony, D. Brady, E. Coke, A. Groff, E. Hickie, C. Hodkinson, M. Liston, J. McCrea, J. A. Small, M. Scott, E. Spencer, E. V. Treger
1925-1926	E. Anthony, D. Brady, E. Coke, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, E. Hickie, M. Liston, J. McCrea, E. O’Donnell, J. A. Small, E. Spencer, M. Scott
1926-1927	E. Anthony, D. Brady, E. Coke, R. Carrothers, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, E. M. Hickie, M. Liston, J. McCrea, E. O’Donnell, J. B. Small, E. Spencer, M. Tait
1927-1928	R. Broder, G. Coates, E. M. Coke, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, E. M. Hickie, M. Liston, J. McCrea, Gladys Isabel McIntyre (daughter of Alexander McIntyre), E. Spencer, M. Tait
1928-1929	R. Broder, E. Coke, G. Coates, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, E. Hickie, C. Hodkinson, B. Langevin, Jean McCrea, Gladys Isabel McIntyre (daughter of Alexander McIntyre), E. Spencer, M. Tait
1929-1930	G. Coates, E. Cooke, M. Davidson, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, E. Hickie, J. Hodkinson, J. McCrea, Gladys Isabel McIntyre (daughter of Alexander McIntyre), E. Spencer, M. Tait
1930-1931	G. Coates, E. Coke, M. Davidson, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, C. H. Hodkinson, B. Jackson, J. McCrea, E. Spencer, M. Tait, L. Warwick
1931-1932	E. Coke, G. Coates, M. Davidson, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, C. H. Hodkinson, J. McCrea, M. B. Philips (half-day), L. Warwick
1932-1933	C. Barbour, E. Coke, G. Coates, M. Davidson, J. B. Duncan, A. Groff, C. Hodgkinson, J. McCreak, L. Warwick
1933-1934	E. Coke, G. Coates, M. Davidson, A. Groff, C. H. Hodgkinson, G. Howes, L. M. Mason, J. McCrea, J. W. Simpson, L. Warwick
1934-1935	E. Coke, G. Coates, M. Davidson, A. Groff, C. Hodkinson, L. Mason, M. McCrea, L. Warwick
1935-1936	G. Coates, E. Coke, A. Groff, C. H. Hodkinson, J. McCrea, J. Rettie, L. Warwick
1936-1937	C. Coates, E. Coke, A. Groff, M. James, C. H. Hodkinson, J. McCrea, L. Warwick
1937-1938	G. Coates, E. Coke, A. Groff, C. Hadkinson, M. James, J. McCrea, J. W. Simpson (Manual Training)
1938-1939	G. Coates, E. Coke, A. Groff, C. H. Hodkinson, J. McCrea, J. McGrath
1939-1940	G. Coates, M. Douglas, A. Groff, M. McCrea, J. McGrath, M. McSwain
1940-1941	G. Coates, E. Ferguson, A. Groff, B. Henrickson, D. Parkhurst
1941-1942	G. Coates, E. S. Ferguson, A. Groff, B. Henrickson, J. Macmorran
1942-1943	G. Coates, M. A. Daley, Dorothy Eleanor Lane, N. Morrow, E. M. Riley
1943-1944	G. Coates, M. A. Daley, Dorothy Eleanor Lane, N. Morrow, E. M. Riley, W. Thompson
1944-1945	G. Coates, M. Daley, Dorothy Eleanor Lane, N. Morrow
1945-1946	G. Barber, G. Coates, M. Daley, G. Hill, Dorothy Eleanor Lane, J. Lennox, N. Morrow
1946-1947	G. Coates, E. Cummings, M. Daley, F. A. M. Evans, G. Hill, Dorothy Eleanor Lane, E. Peterson, M. Tyler
1947-1948	G. Barber, C. Coates, M. E. Cooper, M. Daley, M. Evans, E. Henderson, G. Hill, E. Lee, E. C. Peterson, M. Tyler
1948-1949	Miss G. Barber, Mrs. G. Coates, Miss M. Daley, Mrs. A. E. Goertzen, Miss I. Hawkins, Mrs. E. Henderson, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss E. Lee, Mrs. A. M. Lennox, Frederick Albert Merrett, Mrs. M. P. Saxton, Mrs. M. Tyler
1949-1950	Mrs. G. Coates, Mrs. R. Feinstein, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss S. McQuarrie, Miss M. E. MacSwain, Miss H. Marshall, Miss D. Nystrom, Mrs. E. Thompson, Mrs. M. Tyler, Miss M. Wright
1950-1951	Mrs. G. Coates, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss H. Marshall, Miss D. R. Matheson, Mrs. C. J. McLeod, Miss M. E. MacSwain, Miss S. McQuarrie, Miss D. Nystrom, Miss M. Wright
1951-1952	Miss M. Y. Arscott, Miss S. M. Bardal, Miss E. Elred, Mrs. W. E. Frehs, Mrs. F. A. Gibson, Miss E. Graham, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss M. E. Humphries, Miss G. Marshall, Miss R. Matheson, Miss D. Nystrom, Mrs. C. Philip, M. Woroby, Miss M. Wright
1952-1953	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss M. Y. Arscott, Miss S. M. Bardal, Miss J. Buckinkham, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. W. E. Frehs, Miss A. Graham, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss M. E. Humphreys, Miss S. M. MacPhail, Miss R. Matheson, Mrs. A. O'Grady, Mrs. C. Philip, M. Woroby, Miss M. Wright
1953-1954	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss J. Buckingham, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. W. Frehsn, Miss A. Graham, Miss M. J. Hardyd, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss M. Humphries, Miss E. Macrovicz, Miss R. Matheson, Mrs. C. Philip, Mrs. M. Riddle, Miss E. Riley, M. Woroby, Miss M. Wright
1954-1955	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, Mrs. G. Hill, Miss M. Humphries, Miss E. Macrovicz, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss R. Matheson, R. Matthews, Mrs. C. Philip, Miss E. Riley, Miss A. Smigel
1955-1956	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Miss W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, Miss E. Macrovicz, Mrs. S. Marshall, R. Matthews, Mrs. C. Philip, Miss E. Riley, Mrs. J. Scutte, Miss K. Skeel, Mrs. P. Swan, Mrs. E. Thorlakson
1956-1957	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, Herbert Edward Lother, Mrs. S. Marshall, Mrs. C. Philip, Miss E. Riley, Mrs. M. Schutte, Miss K. Skeel, Mrs. P. Swan, Miss E. Ward
1957-1958	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, Herbert Edward Lother, Mrs. S. Marshall, Mrs. C. Phillip, Miss E. Riley, Mrs. M. Schutte, Miss K. Skeel, Miss E. Ward
1958-1959	Miss M. Alsaker, Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. E. Ellison, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, Mrs. R. Henderson, Herbert Edward Lother, Mrs. S. Marshall, Mrs. C. Philip, Mrs. M. Schutte, Miss E. Ward
1959-1960	Miss G. Barber, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. L. Ellison, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, Miss A. Graham, D. Goertzen, Mrs. R. Henderson, Miss P. Lichter, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss A. Nedotafko, Mrs. C. Phillip, Mrs. M. Schutte
1960-1961	Miss G. Barber, Miss B. Dales, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. L. Ellison, Mrs. W. Frehs, Miss S. Gillies, D. Goertzen, Miss A. Graham, Mrs. R. Henderson, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss A. Nedotafko, Mrs. C. Philip, Mrs. M. Schutte
1961-1962	Miss B. Dales, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. L. Ellison, Miss W. Flatt, Miss S. Gillies, D. Goertzen, Mrs. R. Henderson, Miss S. Kominetsky, Mrs. S. Marshall, Mrs. E. Massey, Miss A. Nedotafko, Miss A. O’Kane, Mrs. M. Schutte
1962-1963	?
1963-1964	Miss L. Brigden, Miss N. Conley, Miss E. Eldred, Mrs. L. Ellison, Miss W. Flatt, Miss S. Gillies, Mrs. M. Hardin, Mrs. R. Henderson, Miss S. Kominetsky, Mrs. S. Marshall, Miss A. Nowosad, A. Penner, Mrs. M. Schutte, Mrs. V. Thornton
1964-1965	Miss L. Brigden, Mrs. D. Clerihew, Miss N. Conley, Mrs. L. Ellison, I. Gawrachynsky, Mrs. M. Hardin, Miss C. Hilton, Miss S. Kominetsky, Miss T. Rae, Mrs. M. Schutte, Mrs. D. Smith, Mrs. V. Thornton, Miss E. Vickers
1965-1966	Miss R. Aylward, Mrs. P. Backman, Mrs. L. Begay, E. Braaten, Mrs. D. Clerihew, Miss E. Curtis, Mrs. A. Funk, I. Gawrachynsky, Miss D. Kosswan, Mrs. J. Law, Mrs. C. Lawson, Miss S. LeBlanc, Mrs. M. Pattinson, Mrs. M. Toews
1966-1967	Mrs. P. Backman, Miss L. Bender, Mrs. E. Black, Mrs. D. Clerihew, Mrs. T. Flom, I. Gawrachynsky, Miss D. Kosowan, Mrs. J. Law, Mrs. C. Lawton, Miss J. Mendrun, Mrs. M. Pattinson, Miss E. Thiek, Miss H. Williams
1967-1968	Mrs. P. Backman, Mrs. M. E. Brown, Mrs. D. Clerihew, Miss M. B. Daneault, Mrs. T. Flom, R. Foster, Mrs. A. Grant, Miss L. Hughes, Mrs. J. Law, Miss J. Mendrun, Mrs. M. Rennie, Miss E. Thick, Miss H. Williams
1968-1969	Mrs. P. Backman, Mrs. M. E. Brown, Miss M. B. Daneault, R. Foster, Mrs. C. Fung, Mrs. F. Hughes, Mrs. J. Law, Mrs. N. McKay, Miss J. Mendrun, Mrs. M. Putnam, Miss P. Sawry, Miss S. Thatcher, Miss E. Thick, Miss H. Williams, Miss E. R. Reimer

Photos & Coordinates

La Verendrye School (no date) Source: Winnipeg School Division La Verendrye School (2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough La Verendrye School honour roll (September 2021) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86833, W97.15619 denoted by symbol on the map above

Honour Roll (First World War Casualties)

Name	Occupation	Service	Rank	Birth Date	Death Date
Earl Sabinsky Alward [Augustine United, Next of Kin]	Steam fitter	9th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops	Sapper	1 February 1896	3 November 1917
William Henry Clipperton [Fort Rouge Methodist]	School Principal (La Verendrye School)	8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Lieutenant	10 April 1886	17 August 1917
Frank Holland Morrison [Nassau Street Baptist]	Machinist Apprentice	27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	1 March 1893	10 April 1917
Alan Skirving Richardson [Holy Trinity, Next of Kin, Osler Hammond & Nanton]	Accountant	5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Lieutenant	16 May 1895	25 July 1916

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: North Ward School Monument / La Verendrye School (500 Seventh Street NW, Portage la Prairie)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lafortune School No. 1304 / La Verendrye School (Woodridge, RM of Piney)

Sources:

“Teachers named for all schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 September 1910, page 3.

“Assignment of teachers for Winnipeg Schools which open on Sept. 15,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1911, page 9.

“City schools staff assembling in Sept.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1912, page 8.

“Opening of the Winnipeg public schools has been set for Monday next,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 August 1913, pages 1 and 2.

“Here’s your teacher!” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 August 1914, page 6.

“School Board assigns teachers,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1915, page 9.

“Reduce staff of teachers at high schools Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 August 1916, pages 1 & 12.

“Boundaries of schools are named,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 24 August 1917, page 9.

“Complete plans to open schools Tuesday for 30,000 children,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 30 August 1918, page 14.

“Teachers are selected for various grades,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1919, page 3.

“Winnipeg schools, No. 23—La Verendrye,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 November 1922, page 5.

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

“New Principals named for five city schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 2005, page B6.

We thank Claudette Warnke, Lelainia Lloyd, Michael Parke-Taylor, and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Nathan Kramer, and Reid Dickie.

Page revised: 11 November 2021

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