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The school construction began with a sod-turning ceremony on 14 August 1951, performed by H. L. Stevens, followed on 17 September 1951 with the cornerstone laying by Saul Mark Cherniack. Also present at the cornerstone ceremony were Board Chairman Campbell Haig, trustee A. Zaharychuk, Secretary-Treasurer F. A. Allden, trustee Joseph Zuken, trustee Stan Carrick, and Commissioner of Works and Buildings W. A. Martin.
A controversy arose when school trustee and building name committee chair Andrew N. Robertson suggested the name of Robertson School, in accordance with the Winnipeg Schoool Division policy of naming schools for the adjacent roads on which they stood. At the request of School Board Chairman Haig, fellow-trustee W. S. McEwen replaced Robertson as committee chair. Other suggestions were entertained, including North Western School, Monreith School, Col. J. B. Mitchell School, and Robertson Street School. In the end, Robertson School prevailed. The naming honours are attributed to the Scottish historian and Presbyterian minister William Robertson (1721-1793) who served as Principal of Edinburgh University in 1762, rather than James Robertson, for whom the street is named. The building featured 14 rooms and a gymnasium, and was built by the Genn-Walon Construction Company. It cost $274,410 and opened to students in September 1952. The official opening was held during Education Week, on 5 March 1953.
Capacity was quickly expanded in 1953, with the brick and steel addition of six rooms at a cost of $83,623. The work was undertaken by the Peter Leitch Construction Company and opened in September of the same year. Later additions were made in 1970 (three rooms), 1996 (two classrooms), and 2003 (two portable classrooms). A large expansion was undertaken in August 2008 and opened to students in September 2009. The addition was designed by Calnitsky Associates Architects and undertaken at a cost of $4,800,000 by Red Lake Construction. It officially opened in December 2009 and featured a new gymnasium, library, computer laboratory, special needs facility, and solar heating wall.
Period
Principal
1952-1962
George Harvey Warren (1904-1967)
1962-1965
Franklin Edward “Frank” Bothe (1908-2002)
1965-1966
Grace Ida Keith (1905-1995)
1966-1972
Gladys Marshall
1972-1974
Leslie Leopold “Les” Kolt (c1928-2004)
1974-1976
Donalda Ruth Stewart “Donna” Stanbra (1925-2011)
1976-1993
Charles Blair Thompson
1993-1998
Robert “Bob” Mak
1998-1999
Carol Dubnicoff
1999-2005
Paul Sutherland
2006-2011
Pamela Bell
2011-2019
Tony Marchione
2019-?
Jude Guzzi
School Year
Teachers
1952-1953
Mrs. M. Bourdon, Mrs. C. Brister, Miss J. M. Bull, Miss G. Crowe, Mrs. E. Dennis, J. Elias, Mrs. C. B. Giles, Miss K. M. Duffy, Mrs. F. Jonasson, Miss K. J. Ketchen, Miss M. Martin, Mary Hrenchuk Pankiw, Mrs. E. Thorne, Miss J. Tweed
1953-1954
Mrs. L. Bornholdt, Mrs. M. Bourdon, Mrs. C. Brister, Miss G. Crowe, Miss M. Darby, Teresa Demchuk, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss K. Duffy, J. Elias, David Froese, Mrs. G. R. Giles, Miss P. Ison, Mrs. F. Jonason, Miss J. K. Ketchen, Miss M. Martin, W. C. Perry, Miss J. Rich, Miss A. Slusman, Miss A. Spraggs, Miss J. Tweed
1954-1955
Mrs. J. A. Bornholdt, Mrs. M. Bourdon, Mrs. C. Brister, Miss G. Crowe, Miss M. Darby, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, J. Elias, Miss J. Gibson, Miss R. Ison, Miss J. K. Ketchen, Miss M. Martin, Miss B. McPhail, Miss L. Olafson, Miss J. Scott, Miss A. Slusman, Miss A. Spraggs, Mrs. R. Starr, Miss J. Tweed
1955-1956
Mrs. C. Brister, Miss G. Crowe, Miss M. Darby, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, J. Elias, Mrs. D. B. Flood, Miss S. Richmond, Miss R. Ison, Miss J. Kitchen, Miss M. Marth, Miss L. Olafsson, J. O'Neill, Miss M. Sak, Miss J. Scott, Miss A. Slusman, Mrs. R. Starr, Miss L. Thompson, Miss M. White
1956-1957
Mrs. C. Brister, Miss G. Crowe, Miss M. Darby, Miss G. Dubovsky, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss K. Duffy, Miss A. Kell, Mrs. D. Flood, Miss R. Ison, Miss J. Ketchen, Miss M. Martin, Miss L. Olafson, J. O'Neil, Miss S. Richmond, Miss M. Sak, Miss J. Scott, Miss R. Slusman, Mrs. R. Starr, Miss L. Thompson, Miss M. White
1957-1958
Mrs. C. Brister, Mrs. M. Christie, Miss G. Crowe, Miss E. Crowston, Miss M. Darby, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Miss S. Deegan, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Mrs. O. Hunnie, Miss K. J. Ketchen, Miss A. Kolt, Mrs. E. McCowan, Miss M. Martin, Miss M. Martin, Mr. J. O'Neill, Miss S. Richmond, Miss M. Sak, Miss C. Shearer, Miss L. Stratychuk
1958-1959
Mrs. S. Augustine, Miss V. Campbell, Mrs. M. Christie, Miss G. Crowe, Miss K. Crowston, Miss S. Deegan, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Mrs. O. Hunnie, Miss J. Ketchen, Miss M. Martin, Mrs. E. McCowan, J. O'Neill, Mrs. E. Patterson?, Miss M. Sak, Mrs. E? Smith, Miss L. Stratychuk, Mrs. A. Wall
1959-1960
Mrs. S. Augustine, Miss V. Campbell, Miss G. Crowe, Miss K. Crowston, Miss S. Deegan, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Miss H. Forrest, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Mrs. O. Hunnie, Miss J. Ketchen, Mrs. P. Kirk, Miss J. Krawchuk, Miss M. Martin, Mrs. E. McCowan, W. McKee, J. O'Neill, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Miss W. Skeavington, Miss L. Stratychuk, Mrs. C. Ungrin
1960-1961
Mrs. S. Augustine, Mrs. V. Cumer, Miss G. Crowe, Miss K. Crowston, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss P. Dickie, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Miss S. Deegan, Miss H. Forrest, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Mrs. H. Karasiuk, Miss J. Ketchen, W. Kowalchuk, Miss J. Krawchuk, Mrs. E. McCowan, Miss A. Mowat, Miss M. Martin, J. O'Neill, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Miss W. Skeavington, Miss L. Stratychuk, Mrs. C. Ungrin
1961-1962
Mrs. S. Augustine, Mrs. H. Borsuk, Miss M. Bunting, Miss K. Crowston, Mrs. V. Crummer, Mrs. E. Dennis, Miss G. Dubovsky, Miss K. Duffy, Miss H. Forrest, Mrs. E. Glendenning, Mrs. M. Jaslowsky, Mrs. H. Karasiuk, Miss J. Ketchen, W. Kowalchuk, Miss J. Krawchuk, Miss Hildegard Martens, Mrs. E. McCowan, Miss A. Mowat, J. O'Neill, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Miss H. Slusky, Miss L. Stratychuk, Mrs. C. Ungrin
1962-1963
?
1963-1964
Miss T. Bauman, Mrs. H. G. Borsuk, Miss M. Bunting, Miss K. Challoner, Miss C. Chislett, Miss M. J. Collinson, Miss K. Crowston, Mrs. E. F. Glendinning, Mrs. G. G. Goodridge, Mrs. H. Gruber, Miss J. Hill, J. Jones, W. Kowalchuk, Miss K. Krawchuk, Mrs. E. McCowan, Miss A. Mowat, J. O'Neill, A. Peters, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Mrs. M. R. Schroeder, Mrs. B. Stashko, Mrs. C. A. Ungrin
1964-1965
Mrs. J. Adanac, Miss T. Mauman, Mrs. H. Borsuk, Miss M. Bunting, Miss K. Challoner, Miss K. Crowston, Miss L. Dirks, Mrs. B. Giesbrecht, Mrs. H. Gruber, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Miss J. Hill, J. Jones, W. Kowalchuk, Miss J. Krawchuk, Mrs. E. McCowan, Miss A. Mowat, J. O'Neill, A. Peters, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Mrs. M. Stashko, Mrs. C. Ungrin
1965-1966
Mrs. C. Aitken, Miss T. Bauman, Mrs. H. Borsuk, Miss M. Bunting, Miss K. Challoner, Miss I. Dirks, Mrs. M. E. Duffill, Mrs. B. Giesbrecht, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Mrs. A. Gordon, Miss M. Grevstad, W. Kowalchuk, Miss A. Mowat, A. Peters, Hildur Emily Sandberg, A. Shalay, Mrs. M. Stashko, W. Waterman
1966-1967
Mrs. C. Aitken, Mrs. L. Bell, Miss M. Bunting, Miss K. Challoner, Miss I. Dirks, Mrs. M. Dufill, Miss L. M. Ferguson, Mrs. B. Giesbrecht, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Mrs. A. Gordon, Miss A. Johanneson, W. Kowalchuk, Miss C. Letch?, A. Peters, Hildur Emily Sandberg, A. Shalay, Miss M. Stashko, W. Waterman
1967-1968
Miss L. Bell, Miss M. Bunting, Miss I. Dirks, Miss L.M. Ferguson, Mrs. E. Glendinning, Mrs. A. Gordon, Miss A. Johannesson, W. Kowalchuk, Miss A. Kowalson, Miss J. Kwawchuk, Mrs. E. Larson, Mrs. M. Little, A. Peters, Miss Schroeder, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Mrs. H. Solar, Mrs. M. Stashko, Miss J. Thomas
1968-1969
Mrs. I. Avery, Miss M. Bunting, Mrs. R. Clyde, Miss I. Dirks, Miss L. M. Ferguson, Mrs. E. Glendenning, Mrs. A. Gordon, Mrs. Gertrude Horvath (special education), Miss J. Kelm, Mrs. E. S. Klassen, W. Kowalchuk, Miss J. Krawchuk, Mrs. E. Larson, Mrs. A. M. Lyons, A. Peters, Hildur Emily Sandberg, Miss E. Schroeder, Mrs. H. Solar, Mrs. F. Stevenson, Mrs. A. Silver, Mrs. Anne Yuzyk (special education)
Robertson School (May 2018)
Source: Nathan Kramer
Robertson School (May 2018)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.93411, W97.15769
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Peter Leitch Construction Company
[Photo caption], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 September 1951, page 3.
“What’s in a name? A trustee by any other ... would help,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 October 1951, page 3.
“First new school of ’52 to be opened next week,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 January 1952, page 3.
“Expense decides school building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 February 1952, page 7.
“2,500 extra pupils due in September,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 August 1952, page 3.
“Tender for school building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 April 1953, page 33.
“School contract let,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 May 1953, page 2.
“Principals, teachers for Winnipeg School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1967, page 11.
“Winnipeg teachers’ list announced,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1968, page 28.
“150 picket house,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 November 1971, page 5.
“School safety program,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 July 1977, page 13.
“School bus collision shakes up children,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 April 1988, page 4.
“Winnipeg School Board,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 June 1993, page A11.
“Robertson school students helped flood victims through fund-raising efforts,” Winnipeg Free Press Community Review, 2 July 1997, page 5.
“School victim of ‘random act of bad driving’,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 July 1999, page A3.
“Police dog track robberies suspect,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 November 2004, page B8.
“The Winnipeg School Division invitation to bid for Robertson School addition and renovations,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 April 2008, page B4.
History of Robertson School, Winnipeg School Division.
Winnipeg School Division: Celebrating One Hundred Fifty Years, 1871-2021 by Winnipeg School Division, 2021.
We thank Mary Anne Shore for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 27 October 2024
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