Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
The Strathclair School District was organized formally in 1884 and a school operated in Strathclair in what is now the Rural Municipality of Yellowhead.
A two-storey stone structure known as the “old stone school” and more formally as Major School was constructed by Robert Leeson (1858-1951). In 1913, it became Strathclair Consolidated School when it consolidated with Elgin School No. 318. A four-classroom brick building was constructed in 1915 and the former stone building was converted into a two-family dwelling purchased by Reverend David Iverach. He later traded it for a 1926 Studebaker sedan.
As additional space in the brick building was required, two classrooms were added to its north side in 1924 and two more classrooms on the northeast corner in 1954. A new high school building was built in 1960 and an addition to it for younger grades was made in 1972.
Over the years, students from other rural schools came here as they closed: Green Bluff School No. 759, Penrith School No. 813, Wolfe Creek School No. 817, Holylea School No. 904, Pattison School No. 1376, and Marney School No. 275. The 1915 school building was demolished in 1975 and is commemorated on the site by an engraved stone sign.
Period
Principal
1896-?
Archibald McIntyre (1866-1950)
?-1915
?
1915-1918
Hugh Clarke Fairfield (1877-1961)
1918-1923
David Iverach (1871-1946)
1923-1924
Thomas Patrick King (1873-1954)
1924-1943
Octavius T. Gamey (1877-1963)
1943-1949
Laura Elfreda Shanks (1909-1996)
1949-1957
Walter Thorvaldur Fredrickson (1907-1974)
1957-1982
Elstan Glorydd “E. G. / Wick” Morris (1923-2011)
1982-1985
1985-1988
Rex Virtue
1988-?
Randy Earle
Period
Vice-Principal
1982-?
Randy Earle
Ken Smith
School Year
Teachers
1961-1962
Mrs. Gwen Bell, Mrs. Eva Mundell, Mr. Robert Rempel, Mrs. Inez Rinn
1962-1970
?
1970-1971
Jean Anderson, Joan Baker, Bob Bell, Lois Dandrige, Margaret English, Gary Garbolinsky, Marilyn Geekie, Helga Gerrard, Winnie Glenn, Wilma McKerchar, Annabelle Pirie, Gayleen Stimpson
Among the other teachers who worked at Strathclair School were Elsie C. Dewar and Lorne A. Finkbeiner (three years).
Major School (circa 1911)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspector Photos GR2664, C65.
Strathclair School (circa 1917)
Source: Education Department Report, 1917, Manitoba Legislative Library.
Postcard view of the Strathclair School building (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0007.
Strathclair School commemorative sign (July 2012)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.40339, W100.39140
denoted by symbol on the map above
Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.
“Council reports,” Birtle Eyewitness, 3 October 1961, page 10.
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.
Strathclair, Manitoba: Our Story to 1984 by the Strathclair Centennial History Committee, 1984.
“Trustees conduct regular meeting,” Hamiota Echo, 13 September 1988, page 7.
We thank Nathan Kramer and Ken Storie for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 14 October 2024
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