Historic Sites of Manitoba: North Ward School / Victoria School / Ruth Hooker School (430 Morris Avenue, Selkirk)

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

Located along Selkirk’s Superior Avenue, North Ward School was built in the Selkirk School District (later Lord Selkirk School Division) in 1906 to accommodate recent and substantial residential development in that area. Originally envisioned as a facility to match the Central School in size, it was proposed to have around eight classrooms and to cost about $11,000. A 1907 report described a scaled-down facility of four classrooms. In 1909, district voters overwhelmingly approved a grade re-alignment, also affecting South Ward School and Central School, whereby North Ward School was changed to host primary and grade 1 in one classroom, and grades 2, 3 and 8 in a second classroom. Around 1920, the North Ward School was renamed Victoria School. It was expanded in 1930 and 1952.

Backing onto Victoria School, Ruth Hooker School was built along Morris Avenue in 1958. Named for Chair of the Selkirk School Board Ruth Caroline Moody Hooker, the building initially had four classrooms and an office/teachers room. In 1965, it was enlarged on a design by the Winnipeg architectural firm of Waisman Ross Blankstein Coop Gillmor Hanna Associates.

Victoria School and Ruth Hooker School operated separately though the 1967-1968 school year, after which they became the Victoria - Ruth Hooker School (1968-1971), then Ruth Hooker School (1971-1972). The original North Ward School building no longer stands at the site.

Principals (North Ward School / Victoria School)

Period

Principal

1907-?

Edward Arthur Bathgate [Batke] (1887-1961)

?-1913

?

1913-1914

Peter Robert Loutit (1878-1961)

1915-1920

?

1920-1922

Elizabeth Blanche Teeter “Betha” Moody (1886-1971)

1922-1932

?

1932-1947

Amy Adelaide Ditch Browning (1893-1981)

1947-1948

H. J. McDonald

1948-1956

Allan Alexander “Andy” Anderson (1892-1981)

1956-1968

Gladys Kathleen McQueen (1906-1978)

Principals (Ruth Hooker School)

Period

Principal

1958-1962

Margaret Ellen Eames (1904-1962)

1962-?

?

?-?

Tony Maksymyk (1925-2007)

?-1968

?

1968-?

Steven Lawrence “Steve” Banera (1933-2018)

?-1980

?

1980-1985

Oakley Southern

1985-1989

Barry Kuly

1989-1992

Bob Jesson

1992-1999

Sharon Chanas

1999-2004

Gayle Halliwell

2004-2007

?

2007

Kerry Skarban

2007-2009

?

2009-2014

Tamara DeiCont

2014-?

Ms. L. McGillivray

Teachers (partial lists)

School Year

Teachers

1913-1914

Miss Thorlackson

1920-1921

4 teachers

1921-1922

Miss Anderson, Mrs. Finnsson, Miss Nixon, Miss Tester

1932-1933

Miss N. Bird, Miss D. Daly, Lottie Olafson, Rose Shline

1933-1934
(incomplete)

Lottie Olafson

1935-1936

Miss N. Bird, Alice Daly, Miss E. McKay, Miss A. Neville, Rose Shline

1936-1937

Miss N. Bird, Alice Daly, Miss E. McKay, Miss A. Neville, Rose Shline

1937-1938

Miss N. Bird, Alice Daly, Mr. T. Harriott, Miss E. McKay, Rose Shline

1939-1940

Ethel Bird, Alice Daly, Mr. T. Harriott, Sophie Olafson, Nita Romanche (sewing), Rose Shline

1940-1941

Ethel Bird, Alice Daly, Mr. T. Harriott, Miss J. McConnell, Nita Romanche (sewing), Rose Shline

1941-1942

Ethel Bird, Alice Daly, S. Olafson, Mrs. E. L. Reid, Nita Romanche (sewing), Rose Shline

1942-1943

Alice Daly, Mrs. E. L. Reid, Miss E. D. Persoage, Nita Romanche, Rose Shline

1943-1944

Alice Daly, Mrs. Munson, Miss E. Persoage, Rose Shline

1944-1945

Alice Daly, Mrs. A. Munson, Miss E. D. Persoage, Nita Romanche, Rose Shline

1945-1946

Alice Daly, Mrs. M. Munson, Miss E. Persoage, Nita Romanche (sewing and handwork), Rose Shline

1946-1947

Mrs. A. A. Browning (grade 6), Alice Daly (grade 2), Miss I. Howelko (grade 1), Kathleen McQueen (grade 4), Rose Shline (grade 3), Miss C. Tricker (grade 5), Miss W. Wotton (sewing)

1947-1948

Alice Daly, Rose Shline, Miss L. Sawchuk (home making), Miss A. Simpson, Ruth Swanson

1949-1950

Miss Elsie Baird, Alice Daly, Miss F. M. Giasson, Miss P. Klym, Rose Shline, Miss A. Simpson, Ruth Swanson

1950-1951

Elsie Baird, Alice Daly, Pauline Klym, Jean Labossiere, Lucille Manaigre, Rose Schline, Ruth Swanson

1951-1952

Alice Daly, Mrs. E. Dewar, Miss P. Klym, Miss J. LaBossiere, Miss L. Manaigne, Ruth Swanson

1952-1953

G. Andrew, I. Brigden, M. Crinchuk, Alice Daly, Mrs. E. Dewar, H. I. Hagglund, Ruth Swanson

1953-1954

Mrs. G. Andrews, Miss I. Brigden, Miss R. Clark, Alice Daly, Mrs. E. I. Dewar, Mrs. O. A. Lynch, Ruth Swanson, Miss M. Thatcher

1955-1956

Mrs. G. Andrew, Miss R. Clark, Alice Daly, Mrs. W. Harriott, Miss M. Kirvan, Mrs. O. A. Lynch, George Schmidt, M. J. Shsarchuk, Ruth Swanson

1956-1959

?

1959-1960

Mr. Kozak (grade 5)

1960-1961

Ms. Eames (grade 6)

Other teachers: Gladys Kathleen McQueen (1942-1955)

Photos & Coordinates

Fire insurance map showing the location of the North Ward School

Fire insurance map showing the location of the North Ward School (September 1916)
Source: Library and Archives Canada

Ruth Hooker School

Ruth Hooker School (August 2016)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Ruth Hooker School

Ruth Hooker School (August 2016)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Ruth Hooker School

Ruth Hooker School (July 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N50.14776, W96.87579
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“Selkirk,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 April 1906, page 24.

“Selkirk,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 May 1907, page 8.

“Wanted - male principal,” Manitoba Free Press, 30 July 1907, page 28.

“Changes school policy,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 August 1909, page 3.

“Selkirk news and local events,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 august 1914, page 31.

“Selkirk, Man,” Western Canada Fire Underwriters’ Association map, September 1916, Library and Archives Canada.

“Selkirk,” Manitoba Free Press, 31 August 1920, page 11.

“Interesting newsy items from Selkirk,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 September 1921, page 4.

“Grade 12 to be tought [sic] at Selkirk Collegiate” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 September 1932, page 3.

“Selkirk schools open,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 September 1936, page 3.

“Teachers are named for Selkirk schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 August 1937, page 2.

“One thousand pupils for Selkirk schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 August 1939, page 2.

“Thousand to enroll in Selkirk schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 August 1940, page 4.

“Schools of Selkirk to reopen Tuesday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 September 1941, page 3.

“Selkirk schools open,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 September 1942, page 2.

“Schools to reopen in Selkirk Sept. 7,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 August 1943, page 10.

“Selkirk schools to reopen Tuesday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 August 1944, page 3.

“Selkirk school staff engage for new term,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1945, page 19.

“Selkirk school staff named,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 August 1946, page 20.

“Selkirk news,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 August 1947, page 9.

“Selkirk schools re-open on Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 August 1949, page 19.

“Selkirk schools have record teaching staff,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1950, page 23.

“Selkirk notes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 September 1951, page 11.

“Staffs named for schools at Selkirk,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1952, page 10.

“School starts Sept. 1 for Selkirk pupils,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 August 1955, page 12.

“Tenders for Ruth Hooker School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 July 1965, page 56.

Schools in the Interlake - Manitoba - Vol. 1, Local Government Boundaries Commission, Revised March 1968. [Archives of Manitoba]

“Lord Selkirk S.D. # 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 April 1980, page 36.

“Lord Selkirk S.D. # 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 December 1984, page 35.

“Lord Selkirk S.D. # 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 July 1985, page 36.

“Lord Selkirk S.D. # 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 June 1987, page 45.

“Lord Selkirk S.D. # 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 June 1989, page 29.

“Program aims to teach kids to ‘learn not to burn’,” Winnipeg Free Press Rural Edition, 21 April 1992, page 2.

“Lord Selkirk School Division No. 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 June 1992, page E48.

“School breakfast clubs a success in Manitoba,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1999, page A12.

“Lord Selkirk School Division No. 11,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 May 1999, page D10.

“Lord Selkirk School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 April 2004, page 87.

“Lord Selkirk School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 February 2007, page 113.

“Lord Selkirk School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 2009, page 99.

School division half-yearly attendance reports, Schedule: E 0757, Accession: GR 1196, Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Wendy Stefanyshyn and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 5 September 2021

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