The Ruska Rawa School District was established formally in January 1904 and a one-room school building was erected on the southeast quarter of 20-20-23 west of the Principal Meridian in the Municipality of Rossburn. It operated from 1904 to 1952. A new school was built in 1952. It closed in June 1965. Only the building’s foundation remains at the site but a plaque erected in 1984 commemorates the school.
The teachers of Ruska Rawa School were Dmytro Wowk (1907-1912), Joseph Dyck (1912-1914), Nicholas Podworney (1914-1918), A. Burtniak (1918-1919), Basil Lazaruk (1919-1924, 1924-1925), Peter Mitenko (1924), William Yakemischak (1925), Grace Ferguson (1925), Stanley Humeney (1925-1928), Pauline M. Yankewicz (1928-1929), Francis Kurys (1929-1931), Anne Zubachek (1931-1936), Michael Tokar (1936-1939), Olga Hyrsak (1939-1941), William Sametz (1941-1942), Phyllis Chopp (1942-1943, 1957-1963), AnIle Dnistranski (1943-1945), Mike Bewza (1945-1946), Kate Twerdun (1946-1947), Phyllis Shunewick (1947-1948), Phyllis Zimmerman (1948), Mike Charney (1948), Gwen Hullick (1948-1949), Pearl Borowski (1949-1950), Edward Strank (1950-1951), Morris Kowalchuk (1951-1952), Helen Choropita (1952-1953), Bernice Korolyk (1953), Joseph Zatylny (1954), Janet Sitko (1954-1955), Olga Wingerak (1955-1956), Carol Ewanson (1956-1957), Mrs. Dvorak (1963-1964), and Mrs. Jean Michalchuk (1964-1965).
Ruska Rawa School (no date) by J. W. Clarke
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 87.Ruska Rawa School commemorative sign (June 2012)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughRuska Rawa School foundation (June 2012)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.72752, W100.62832
denoted by symbol on the map above
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.
On the Sunny Slopes of the Riding Mountains, A History of Rossburn and District, Volume 1 by Rossburn History Club, 1984. [Manitoba Legislative Library, F5648.R78 Ont]
A Study of Public School Buildings in Manitoba by David Butterfield, Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, 1994, 230 pages.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 11 February 2021
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!