Historic Sites of Manitoba: H. L. Softley School / Beautiful Savior Lutheran School (52 Birchdale Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

Named for administrator H. L. Softley, this Winnipeg school was commissioned by the Norwood School Division and opened in September 1970. It was initially used for education of pupils with special needs, but from 1989-1998 it hosted classes in kindergarten to grade 3. The facility closed in June 1998.

The building was later sold to Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church which relocated its private school here from a previousl location in St. Vital.

Principals

Period	Principal
1970-1977	David Reuben George “Dave” Lawson (1922-2004)
1977-1989	James Mitchell “Jim” McArthur
1989-1998	Charlotte Denise Kaminsky

Teachers

Period	Teachers
1970-1971	?
1971-1972	?
1972-1973	?
1973-1974	?
1974-1975	?
1975-1976	?
1976-1977	?
1977-1978	?
1978-1979	?
1979-1980	?
1980-1981	?
1981-1982	(all classes; Trainable Mentally Handicapped): Christine Ann Baran (teachers aide), June Mary Bowerman, James Ealing (teachers aide), Wendy Lorraine Hansen (work experience coordinator), George Ronald Hinther, Janet Morgan Hurst (teachers aide), Laura Margaret Kerr (teachers aide), Lovetta Gwenda Lucas (teachers aide), Bertha Alice Menard, Irene Miklovic, Sherry Annette Miller (teachers aide), Richard Robert Mozol (teachers aide), Geoffrey Paul Nuyten, Marthe Genevieve Zelia Perry (teachers aide), William John Rose (teachers aide), Eva Hazel Roziere, Pamela Irene Wilson (teachers aide)
1982-1983	?
1983-1984	?
1984-1985	?
1985-1986	?
1986-1987	?
1987-1988	(all classes; Trainable Mentally Handicapped): Brian Douglas Bean (teachers aide), Janet Lynn Black (teachers aide), Mike Crosby (teachers aide), Richard Desautels (teachers aide), Marnie Jan Edel (teachers aide), Ronaldo Gilewicz, Roger Jean Grandmont (teachers aide), Beatriz Anabella Granson (teachers aide), Wade William Hornsby (teachers aide), Bertha Alice Menard, Irene Miklovic, Pamela Irene Wilson (teachers aide)
1988-1989	(all classes; Trainable Mentally Handicapped): Janet Lynn Black (teachers aide), Mike Crosby (teachers aide), Michele Margaret Dimitrov (teachers aide), Marnie Jan Edel (teachers aide), Rocando Gilewicz, Beatriz Ana Granson (teachers aide), Wade William Hornsby (teachers aide), Carla Marie Lauzon (teachers aide), Bertha Alice Menard, Nancy Joyce Pascoe (teachers aide), Pamela Irene Wilson (teachers aide)
1989-1990	Monique Arbez-Decock (grade 1), Anita M. Cloutier (kindergarten), Simone Gabrielle (grade 2), Rachel Ann Guay (grade 2), Lucette Marie Jobin (grade 1), Charlotte Denise Kaminsky (no grade, 0.5; Principal, 0.5), Colette M. Letourneau (teachers aide), Diane Marie Sabourin (no grade, 0.15), Marie France Saquet (no grade, 0.5)
1990-1991	?
1991-1992	?
1992-1993	?
1993-1994	?
1994-1995	?
1995-1996	?
1996-1997	?
1997-1998	?

Photos & Coordinates

The former H. L. Softley School (May 2018) Source: Nathan Kramer The former H. L. Softley School (May 2018) Source: Nathan Kramer Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87285, W97.13007 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Harry Lorne “King” Softley (1905-1969)

Sources:

“Students find friendship in travel program,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 May 1981, page 2.

“School staff absent from pool when youth took ill, inquest told,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 June 1989, page 10.

“‘Best school in the world’ closes to end the era of education in Norwood,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 June 1998, page A13.

School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.

School division student yearly attendance reports (E 0758A), Archives of Manitoba.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 11 January 2025

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