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This school in Selkirk, named for local notable Robert Smith, was built by the Watchler Manufacturing Company Limited for the Selkirk School District. Construction took five months and was overseen by contractor John Greenlay. The facility contained 16 classrooms along with an auditorium and specialty rooms. It opened to junior high students in the fall of 1959, with an official unveiling ceremony held on 30 November 1959. The event featured a ribbon cutting, invocation by Rev. Dr. Gerald Rogers, a portrait hanging of Smith, a formal handing over of keys, and unveiling of a commemorative bronze plaque. In attendance were School Board Chairman Andrew Smith, Mayor Ben Massey, R. R. Robertson of the Department of Education, and members of Smith’s family. The school has since been converted to an elementary school in the Lord Selkirk School Division.
Period
Principal
1959-1966
Frank Scardina
1966-1971
Robert Kenneth “Bob” Wur
1971-1976
?
1976-1985
Tony Maksymyk (1925-2007)
1985-1989
?
1989-1993
Robert Kenneth “Bob” Wur
1993-2018
?
2018-?
Lisa Minaker
Period
Vice-Principal
1968-1971
Maurice J. Sarchuk
1971-2018
?
2018-?
Kristine Duke
Period
Teachers
1959-1960
Allan Alexander Anderson (grade 7), Steve Banera (grade 6), Christine Jefferson (grade 7), Mrs. J. McDonald (grade 7), Agnes Reid (grade 7), Frank Scardina (grade 8), Oakley Southern (grade 6), Mr. B. Wherrett (grade 6), Miss E. Zieroth (grade 6)
1960-1961
Allan Alexander Anderson (grade 8), Mr. C. Anderson (grade 7), Steve Banera (grade 7), Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Christine Jefferson (grade 8), Miss H. Los (grade 6), Mr. K. McCurdy (grade 7), Mrs. McDonald (grade 7), Agnes Reid (grade 8), Maurice Sarchuk (grade 7), Oakley Southern (grade 8), Frank Scardina (grade 8), Miss M. Scott (Home Economics), Mr. B. Wherrett (Physical Education), Miss E. Zieroth (grade 6)
1961-1962
Allan Alexander Anderson (grade 8), Steve Banera (grade 7), Mrs. E. Cross (grade 6), Christine Jefferson (grade 8), Miss Los (grade 6), Tony Maksymyk (grade 7), Oakley Southern (grade 8), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Agnes Reid (grade 8), Maurice Sarchuk (grade 7), Frank Scardina (grade 8), Miss D. Werhle (grade 7), Miss E. Zieroth (grade 6)
1962-1963
1963-1964
Allan Alexander Anderson, Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Mrs. Cross, Irene Dukenich, Casimir “Cas” Hollinger, Miss Jasper, Christine Jefferson, Mr. Kosack, Miss Los, Miss Mizgiel, Maurice Sarchuk, Dave L. Semenko, Agnes Reid, Clyde Reid, Frank Scardina, Miss Sigurdson (Home Economics), Oakley Southern, Mr. Wherrett (Physical Education), Miss E. Zieroth
1964-1965
Allan Alexander Anderson (grade 8), Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Mrs. Cross (grade 6), Irene Dukenich (grade 6), Leslie B. Ewacha (grade 7), Mrs. Grundy (Home Economics), Mr. Hall (Physical Education), Casimir “Cas” Hollinger (grade 7), Mrs. Iwanozcko (grade 6), Mrs. Janzen (grade 7), Christine Jefferson (grade 8), Mr. Kosack (grade 6), Miss Los (grade 7), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Dave L. Semenko (grade 7), Mr. Scardina (grade 8), Maurice Sarchuk (grade 8), Oakley Southern (grade 8), Miss Werhle (grade 8)
1965-1966
Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Miss R. Belanger (French), Miss A. Bergen (grade 5), Leslie B. Ewacha (grade 7), Don Hall (Physical Education), Casimir “Cas” Hollinger (grade 8), Mrs. A. Janzen (grade 7), Christine Jefferson (grade 8), Miss A. Kulchyski (grade 6), Miss H. Los (grade 7), Mrs. E. Cross (grade 6), Irene Dukenich (grade 6), Patricia “Pat” Lesko (grade 6), Miss A. Power (Home Economics), Maurice J. Sarchuk (grade 8), Frank Scardina (grade 8), Dave L. Semenko (grade 7), Oakley Southern (grade 8), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Miss D. F. Wehrle (grade 8)
1966-1967
Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Alice Chubaty (grade 8), Eleanor Cross (grade 6), Irene Dukenich (grade 6), Casimir “Cas” Hollinger (grade 8), Agnes Janzen (grade 7), Christine Jefferson (grade 8), Patricia “Pat” Lesko (grade 7), Steffie Moltowsky (grade 5), Helen Neskar (grade 6), Elaine Perry (grade 5), Anne Power (Home Economics), Agnes Reid (grade 8), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Henry Scholte (grade 6), Dave L. Semenko (grade 8), Oakley Southern (grade 8), Allan Thompson (Physical Education), Dorothy F. Wehrle (grade 7), Robert Kenneth “Bob” Wur (grade 8)
1967-1968
?
1968-1969
Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Edward Bebak (grade 7), Mrs. S. Boresky (grade 7), Dorothy Bowen (Home Economics), Jim Bowen (Industrial Arts), Alice Chubaty (grade 7), Mr. C. L. Davies (special education), Mrs. P. Derewianchuk (grade 7), Mr. J. Fast (grade 8), Miss L. Giesbrecht (Home Economics), Mrs. C. Jefferson (grade 8 and Guidance), Mr. R. Katazinski (grade 8), Patricia “Pat” Lesko (grade 8), Miss J. Levene (grade 8), Mary Milne (grade 7), Miss L. Morgan (grade 8), Mr. V. Morrone (grade 8), Mrs. J. Peebles (grade 7), Mr. J. Polowy (grade 7), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Mr. M. Sarchuk (grade 8), Henry Scholte (grade 8), Dave L. Semenko (grade 8), Mr. A. Thompson (Physical Education)
1969-1970
Sharon Bannerman (grade 7), Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Edward Bebak (grade 8), Dorothy Bowen (Home Economics), Jim Bowen (Industrial Arts), Barry Camac (Special Education), Olga Chomtsychyn (Home Economics), John Fast (grade 8, OEC), Gene Happychuk (G.A.), Sandra Howden (grade 8), Christine Jefferson (grade 8, OEC [Occupational Entrance Class]), Roy Katazinski (grade 7), Lynda Kidd (grade 8), Frank Lambarty (E.E.), Gerald LeBlanc (grade 7, OEC), Patricia “Pat” Lesko (grade 8), Jane Levene (grade 7), Carol Ann Michalski (Home Economics), Mary Milne (grade 7), Don Nicol (grade 7, OEC), Julian Pelowy (grade 8), Lisa Presidente (Home Economics), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Barbara Russell (grade 7), Henry Scholte (Guidance Councillor), Albert Schulz (grade 8), Dave L. Semenko (grade 8), Allan Thompson (Physical Education), Elaine Watt (grade 7)
1970-1971
Sharon Bannerman (grade 7), Arthur Barton (Industrial Arts), Edward Bebak (grade 8), Mrs. C. Bergeson (grade 7, OEC [Occupational Entrance Class]), Dorothy Bowen (Home Economics), Jim Bowen (Industrial Arts), Mrs. J. Bejzyk (Special Education), Miss O. Chomtsychyn (Home Economics), John Fast (grade 8, OEC), Mrs. I Girardin (grade 7), Gene Happychuk (Industrial Arts), Casimir “Cas” Hollinger (Library), Mrs. J. Hood (grade 7, OEC), Sandra Howden (grade 8), Christine Jefferson (grade 8, OEC), Mrs. J. Kahn (grade 8), Roy Katazinski (grade 7), Frank Lambarty (Industrial Arts), Mrs. S. Lawrence (Home Economics), Patricia “Pat” Lesko (grade 8), Miss C. Michalski (Home Economics), Mary Milne (grade 7), Mr. R. Pang (grade 8), Mr. H. Peters (grade 8), Clyde Reid (grade 7), Mrs. E. Ring (grade 7), Miss B. Russell (grade 7), Henry Scholte (Guidance Councillor), Mr. A. Schultz (grade 8), Dave L. Semenko (grade 8), Allan Thompson (Physical Education), Ted Bachman (Band & Music)
Robert Smith School (August 2016)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.14240, -96.88434
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Robert Smith (1880-1944)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Robert H. Smith School (315 Oak Street, Winnipeg)
“Selkirk elementary schools employ 41 teachers for new school year,” Selkirk Enterprise, 19 August 1959, page 1.
“Robert Smith School official opening,” Selkirk Enterprise, 25 November 1959, page 8.
“Robert Smith School to be opened Monday,” Selkirk Enterprise, 25 November 1959, page 1.
“Official opening Selkirk's newest school,” Selkirk Enterprise, 2 December 1959, page 1.
“Comfort, east of maintenance, safety are qualities of Robert Smith School,” Selkirk Enterprise, 9 December 1959, page 1.
“Robert Smith School,” Selkirk Enterprise, 9 December 1959, page 12.
“It’s back to school on September 1st,” Selkirk Enterprise, 24 August 1960, page 1.
“Selkirk teaching staff for coming term,” Selkirk Enterprise, 23 August 1961, page 1.
“Teaching staff of 111 ready for opening of Selkirk schools,” Selkirk Enterprise, 28 August 1963, page 1.
“Teaching staff for coming year,” Selkirk Enterprise, 19 August 1964, page 1.
“Selkirk Schools open Sept. 1st,” Selkirk Enterprise, 25 August 1965, page 1.
“Teaching staff for new term,” Selkirk Enterprise, 7 September 1966, page 3.
“School directory,” Selkirk Enterprise, 4 September 1968, page 3.
“Lord Selkirk School Division teaching staff,” Selkirk Enterprise, 27 August 1969, page 2.
“Lord Selkirk School Division announces instructional staff,” Selkirk Enterprise, 2 September 1970, page 12.
“Selkirk and district elementary schools,” Selkirk Enterprise, 24 March 1976, page 2.
“Presents history to library,” Selkirk Enterprise, 12 October 1977, page 3.
“Lord Selkirk School Division No. 11,” Selkirk Journal, 29 August 1989, page 26.
“Wur witness to nearly 40 years or Selkirk firefighting,” Selkirk Journal, 6 October 1992, page 22.
“Local music pioneer dies [Ted Bachman (1919-1990)],” Selkirk Journal, 12 June 1990, page 6.
Obituary [Leslie Bohdan Ewacha], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 April 2020.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 11 April 2020
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