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The Oakburn School District began in February 1882 as the Oak Creek School District but changed its name in 1885. A school building erected one mile south of Oakburn in the Rural Municipality of Shoal Lake (today, the Rural Municipality of Yellowhead). A new schoolhouse was erected in the fall of 1895 and a second classroom was added to it in 1898.
In 1926, with increasing student enrollment, a five-acre parcel of land at this site was chosen by school inspector J. B. Morrison and purchased from merchant Abraham B. Fishman. Construction of a one-storey, four-classroom frame structure, by the Sheppard Construction Company of Hamiota, was completed by the fall of 1928. The school opened under Principal Janet L. More with 68 elementary and 23 high school students in grades 1 to 11. More taught grades 7 to 11 while Stella Laing taught grades 3 to 6 and Zelma Peden taught grades 1 to 3.
In January 1959, the school was consolidated with three schools from the surrounding area (King George School No. 1242, Rogers School No. 1267, Wheatfield School No. 954) to form Oakburn Consolidated School. A six-room elementary school was built by Komhyr Construction of Russburn. Other rural schools joined it as they closed in the 1960s: Braddock School No. 2134, Culross School No. 185, Harrower School No. 1513, Olha School No. 1243, Randale School No. 2148, St. John School No. 2193 and Zaporoza School No. 1468.
A monument at the former school site was dedicated on 23 July 2000 to the pioneers, trustees, teachers and students of Oakburn School.
Period
Principal
1917-1918
David Iverach (1871-1946)
1918-1919
Jean M. McLaren
1919-1922
?
1922-1924
James Woodside (c1892-?)
1924-1926
Mary B. Yule
1926-1928
Alfred James Struthers (1889-1979)
1928-1935
Janet Louisa May More (1896-1986)
1935-1936
William John Schultz (1899-1988)
1936-1938
Leslie Irving Spear (1906-1973)
1938-1940
M. A. Hawryluk
1940-1941
Wolodimyr B. “Walter” Wachna (1909-1984)
1941-1944
George [Woloshynovski] Woloshynoski (c1909-1963)
1944-1947
Wolodimyr B. “Walter” Wachna (1909-1984)
1947-1948
John Parsons (?-?)
1948-1949
John Osborn Wilson (1900-1972)
1949-1952
Peter Michael Luba (1923-2003)
1952-1954
Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (1918-2003)
1954-1959
Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (1920-2011)
1959-1965
Wesley Henry Sametz (1917-2009)
1965-1967
Sidney Merlin Spidell (1900-1997)
1967-1969
R. Dalby
1969-1970
J. Lucyshen
School Year
Teachers
1916-1917
Mary Aitchison (grades 1-5), L. A. Ecluier? (grades 6-10)
1917-1918
David Iverach (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 6-11), Lillian Wherrett (grades 1-7)
1918-1919
? (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 7-11)
1919-1920
Gladys E. Findlay (grades 1-5), Jean M. McLaren (grades 7-11)
1920-1921
Eleanor J. Carson (grades 1-4), Jean M. McLaren (grades 6-11), Lily Kuntz (grades 1-5)
1921-1922
?
1922-1923
M. McKinnon (grades 1-5), Sophie Moffett (grades 1-5), Katherine Bray (grades 1-7), James Woodside (grades 8-11)
1923-1924
Metanis B. Vaux (grades 1-5), Elsie Finnie (grades 1-6), James Woodside (grades 7-11)
1924-1925
Mrs. Bessie M. Harris (grades 1-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-4), Mary Bljule (grades 8-11)
1925-1926
Helen E. Hepworth (grades 1-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-4), Mary Bljule (grades 7-11)
1926-1927
Helen E. Hepworth (grades 3-6), Jennie B. Keith (grades 1-3), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1927-1928
John H. Menzies (grades 1-3), Jennie B. Keith (grade 3-6), Alfred James Struthers (grades 7-11)
1928-1929
Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-3), Stella Gertrude Laing (grades 3-6), Janet Louisa May More (grades 7-11)
1929-1930
Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-2), Stella Gertrude Laing (grades 3-4), Michael John Twerden (grades 5-7), Janet Louisa May More (grades 8-11)
1930-1931
Zelma W. Peden (grades 1-3), Beryl Alexandra Young (grades 3-5), Michael John Twerden (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1931-1932
Zelma W. Peden (grade 1-3), ? (grades 4-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1932-1933
Zelma W. Peden (grade 1-3), Mabel Jean Sinclair (grades 3-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1933-1934
Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-2), Anne Smigel (grades 4-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1934-1935
Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-3), Anne Smigel (grades 3-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Janet Louisa May More (grades 9-11)
1935-1936
Margaret Meryl Hanlin (grades 1-3), Anne Smigel (grades 4-5), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), William Schultz (grades 9-11)
1936-1937
Mary Kereluk (grades 1-3), Olga Alice Lestition (grades 4-6), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 7-8), Leslie Irving Spear (grades 9-11)
1937-1938
Mary Helen Anderson (grades 1-3), Olga Alice Lestition (grades 4-6), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 6-8), Leslie Irving Spear (grades 9-11)
1938-1939
Mary Helen Anderson (grades 1-2), John Parsons (grades 3-5), Frank Halinsky (grades 6-8), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 9-11)
1939-1940
Helen Forrest (grades 1-2), Taras Robert Korol (grades 3-5), Fred R. Turman (grades 6-8), Michael Alain Hawryluk (grades 9-11)
1940-1941
Helen Forrest (grades 1-2), Taras Robert Korol (grades 3-5), Margaret Howe (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1941-1942
Hildur Ingrid Josephine Sandhorn (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), John Tutkaluke (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1942-1943
Mary Ewashko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), John Tutkaluke (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1943-1944
Mary Ewashko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Luna Nechwediuk (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-10), George Woloshynoski (grades 11-12)
1944-1945
Anne Panko (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Luna Nechwediuk (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1945-1946
Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), Mary Isabel Mazier (grades 3-5), Peter Michael Luba (grades 6-8), Walter B. Wachna (grades 9-11)
1946-1947
Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), Olga Jean Haziuk (grades 3-5), Olga Annie Stechkewich (grades 6-8), John Parsons (grades 9-10), Walter B. Wachna (grades 10-12)
1947-1948
Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Alex Sabeski (grades 6-8), Peter Black (grades 9-10), John Parsons (grades 11-12)
1948-1949
Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), John Osborn Wilson (grades 11-12)
1949-1950
Anne Marjorie Shalay (grades 1-2), Alice Julia Shalay (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12)
1950-1951
Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Olive Luba (grades 1-2), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12), Elinor Maxiene Natizk (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8)
1951-1952
Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 9-10), Olive Luba (grades 1-2), Peter Michael Luba (grades 11-12), Elinor Maxiene Natizk (grades 3-5), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 6-8)
1952-1953
Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Elinor Maxiene Natizk Waddell (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 11-12)
1953-1954
Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Nicholas “Nick” Danyluk (grades 11-12)
1954-1955
Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 6-8), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grades 9-10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1955-1956
Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Stephen Stanley [Szucki] Susky (grade 10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1956-1957
Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 10), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grades 11-12)
1957-1958
Olga Yarish (grades 1-3), Mary Matiation (grades 4-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grades 7-9), Walter Manulak (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grade 12)
1958-1959
Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Mary Matiation (grades 3-5), Jerry Matiation (grades 6-8), Stanley M. Biluke (grade 9), Walter Manulak (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Martin Dmytro Chalaturnyk (grade 12)
1959-1960
Olga Yarish (grades 1-2), Anne Matiation (grades 3-4), Jerry Matiation (grades 5-6), Stanley M. Biluke (grade 7-8), Stephen M. Waytowich (grade 9), Sonia Silewich (grade 10), Victor L. Michaluk (grade 11), Wesley Henry Sametz (grade 12)
Among the other teachers of Oakburn School were Clara Letitia Hamilton (1895-1898, 1900-1901), E. Cameron (1899), Mary Cameron (1900, 1905), Angus McGregor (1904-1905), Mary C. Cowan (1905), and Ellen “Nellie” Douglas Jenkins (1909-1910).
Oakburn School Grounds (circa 1935)
Source: Education Department Report, 1935, Manitoba Legislative Library.
Oakburn School (no date) by G. W. Bartlett
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-1, page 6.
Oakburn School commemorative monument (October 2011)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The present Oakburn School (October 2011)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.56319, W100.57804
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Oak Creek School / Oakburn School No. 255 (RM of Yellowhead)
Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.
Echoes: Oakburn, Manitoba, 1870- 1970 by Oakburn Centennial Committee. Oakburn: The Committee, 1970.
One Hundred Years in the History of the Rural Schools of Manitoba: Their Formation, Reorganization and Dissolution (1871-1971) by Mary B. Perfect, MEd thesis, University of Manitoba, April 1978.
Ripples On The Lake: A History of Shoal Lake Municipality, 1884-1984 by Shoal Lake History Book Committee, 1984.
Shoal Lake Crossroads, 15 July 2000, page 11.
Manitoba School Records Collection (GR2061), Oakburn School District No. 255 Daily Registers, Archives of Manitoba.
We thank Joel Fishman and Malcolm Bell for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 4 September 2021
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