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The Vermette School District was established in May 1898 in the Rural Municipality of St. Vital and a one-classroom schoolhouse was established on Lot 150 in the Parish of St. Norbert. Early educational instruction was largely in French. In April 1922, local voters approved the acquisition of a new school site and construction of a schoolhouse. Property amounting to some three acres was acquired on River Lots 154 and 155 and a new two-classroom frame school was commissioned on designs of architect Gilbert C. Parfitt. Built by contractor Ferdinand Frank Kroegel during the summer of that school year, it was completed at the cost of some $7,000. The facility was located on Lot 155, the west side of St. Anne’s Road, between the Seine River and Red River, now-presently between Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway and the Red River Floodway. Notable repairs, redecorating, and a concrete sidewalk for the school were undertaken in 1928.
The school was closed due to Seine River flooding in the spring of 1942, and again during the 1950 flood, though it was spared from damage during the later. In October 1949, district voters approved a $4,800 teacherage to be added to the school site. Undated architectural drawings show plans for an expansion to the existing facility, scheduled to incorporate an assembly hall and indoor washrooms. Between 1942 and 1961, no evidence is had of expansion designs, leaving uncertain that these plans were ever executed upon. Further instance of the schools closure occurred in June 1959 on account of Seine River flooding. The following year, in April 1960, the Seine again flooded, with a recorded one foot of standing water in the structure. During the several weeks the school was closed, classes were relocated to Woodlawn School. The district became part of the St. Vital Municipal School District No. 2374 in March 1959, later joining the St. Vital School Division. The school closed with the conclusion of the 1962-1963 school year, and the 2.99 acres of the former school site were put up for sale by the Division in 1984. No vestige of the school remains at the site.
According to early St. Norbert resident, explorer, and hunter Joseph Parisien (c1845-1930), interviewed in late 1929 by S. L. Sommerville for the Manitoba Free Press, the school was named for pioneer local resident and noted buffalo hunter, a Mr. Vermette, who died several years prior. Three plausible candidates from the surrounding area include Antoine Vermette (c1831-1924), Alexandre Vermette (1843-1924), and William Vermette (c1858-1925). The latter is believed the most likely.
Born in the Red River Settlement around 1858, William Vermette was a native of St. Norbert and well-known among the local populace. A highly regarded buffalo hunter, he married Nancy Vandal (1858-1935) and had six children: Robert Vermette (c1881-1972), William Vermette (1882-1973), Marie Josephine Vermette [Sister St. Placide, Grey Nuns] (1884-1971), Marie Agnes Vermette (1885-1971), Jules Vermette (c1892-1959), Marie Ann [Anne] “Annie” Vermette (1892-?, wife of David Riel), and step-son Moise (1898-?). For a time, he served as a trustee and chairman of the school district. For the last 35 years of his life, he resided on St. Anne’s Road. He died at his residence on 20 December 1925.
Period
Principal
1922
Mrs. J. Batting
1922
William John Hampton (1875-1963)
1923-1926
Agnes Ann Blake Muloin (1897-1980)
1926-1928
Marie Mamie Caroline Conrad Barrie (1908-1978)
1928
Helen Laferriere
1929-1930
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (1904-1982)
1930-1932
Bernadette Perron Ducharme (1897-1982)
1932-1937
Germaine Sicotte (1904-?)
1937-1939
Arthur John Charles Starr (1907-1966)
1939-1940
Jacob Truthwaite Norquay (1884-1976)
1940-1941
Paul Peter Baccaert (c1902-1949)
1942
Howard Beatty Chenoweth (1919-2004)
1942-1943
Ernest Nakka (1913-1970)
1943-1950
Nicholas Kosowan (1912-1974)
1950-1951
Joseph Shygol (c1928-1974)
1951-1953
Gladys Georgette May Paris
1953-1954
William J. Cook
1954-1955
Abraham William Kahn
1955-1956
Inez Ward
1956-1958
Lawrence Donald Nalachewsky
1958-1963
Herbert Donald “Herb” Roehl (1932-1981)
Among the early teachers of Vermette School were Adeline Muloin (Spring 1898), E. M. McDonald (Fall 1898), Eva McDonald (Spring 1899), Melanie Harrison (Fall 1899 - Spring 1900), Francis Carriere (Fall 1900 - Fall 1901), records not available (Spring 1902 - Fall 1904), Anna Lachance (Spring 1905), Bernadette Guidrow? (pt Fall 1905), Marrins Assie (pt Fall 1905 - Spring 1906), Elodie M. Lacerte (Fall 1906 - Spring 1908), Valentine Desautels (Fall 1908, pt Spring 1909), Alice Johnson (pt Spring 1909), Antoinette Dupuis (Fall 1909 - Spring 1910), Sydeurie Joyal (Fall 1910 - Spring 1912), N. Valentine Desautels (Fall 1912 - Spring 1913), Marie Carmelie Armandine Desautels (Fall 1913 - Spring 1914), Louisa [Louise?] Vermette (Fall 1914), and Marie Louise Vermette (Spring 1915).
School Year
Teachers
1915-1916
Marie Louise Vermette (grades 1-5)
1916-1917
Marie Louise Vermette (grades 1-8)
1917-1918
Marie Louise Vermette (grades 1-7)
1918-1919
Yvonne Vermette (grades 1-7)
1919-1920
Eleanore Delorme (grades 1-8, Spring), Yvonne Vermette (grades 1-8, Fall)
1920-1921
Eleanore Delorme (grades 1-7)
1921-1922
Eleanore Delorme (grades 1-8)
1922-1923
Mrs. J. Batting (grades 3,5 & 8, pt Fall), Agnes Blake (grades 3-8, Spring), William John Hampton (grades 3,5 & 8, pt Fall), L. Massicotte (grades 1-3)
1923-1924
Agnes Blake (grades 3-8), Marie A. Letourneau (grades 1-2)
1924-1925
Agnes Blake (grades 4-8), Maria Emma McDougall (grades 1-3)
1925-1926
Agnes Blake (grades 4-8), Maria Emma McDougall (grades 1-3)
1926-1927
Mamie Conrad (grades 4-8), Maria Emma McDougall (grades 1-3)
1927-1928
Mamie Conrad (grades 4-8), Alphena M. Roy (grades 1-3)
1928-1929
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 4-8, Spring), Blanche R. Charboneau (grades 1-3), Helen Laferriere (grades 4-8, Fall)
1929-1930
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 5-8), Blanche R. Charboneau (grades 1-4)
1930-1931
Bernadette Perron (all grades)
1931-1932
Bernadette Perron (all grades, Fall; grades 5-8, Spring), Marguerite Royal (grades 1-4)
1932-1933
Cora Sicotte (grades 1-4), Germaine Sicotte (grades 5-8)
1933-1934
Cora Sicotte (grades 1-4), Germaine Sicotte (grades 5-8)
1934-1935
Cora Sicotte (grades 1-4), Germaine Sicotte (grades 5-8)
1935-1936
Cora Sicotte (grades 1-4), Germaine Sicotte (grades 5-9)
1936-1937
Cora Sicotte (grades 1-4), Germaine Sicotte (grades 5-9)
1937-1938
Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4), Arthur John Charles Starr (grades 5-9)
1938-1939
Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4), Arthur John Charles Starr (grades 5-9)
1939-1940
Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4), Jacob Truthwaite Norquay (grades 5-9)
1940-1941
Paul Peter Baccaert (grades 5-9), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4)
1941-1942
Paul Peter Baccaert (grades 5-10, Fall), Howard Beatty Chenoweth (grades 5-10, Spring), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4), Miss B. Geroused? (substitute, Spring), M. Walley (substitute, Spring)
1942-1943
Ernest Nakka (grades 5-10), Miss D. Matthewson (substitute, Spring), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4), Dorothy Shot? (substitute, Spring)
1943-1944
Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4)
1944-1945
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4)
1945-1946
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4, 1946), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9), Alice Lena Picard (grades 1-4, 1945)
1946-1947
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9)
1947-1948
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9)
1948-1949
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9)
1949-1950
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Nicholas Kosowan (grades 5-9)
1950-1951
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Joseph Shygol (grades 5-9)
1951-1952
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Gladys Georgette May Paris (grades 5-8)
1952-1953
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), Gladys Georgette May Paris (grades 5-8)
1953-1954
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-4), William J. Cook (grades 5-9)
1954-1955
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Abraham William Kahn (grades 4-8)
1955-1956
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Inez Ward (grades 4-8)
1956-1957
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Lawrence Donald Nalachewsky (grades 4-8)
1957-1958
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Lawrence Donald Nalachewsky (grades 4-8)
1958-1959
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Herbert Donald Rochl (grades 4-8)
1959-1960
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Herbert Donald Rochl (grades 4-8)
1960-1961
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Herbert Donald Rochl (grades 4-6)
1961-1962
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Herbert Donald Rochl (grades 4-6)
1962-1963
Maria Emma McDougall Brabant (grades 1-3), Herbert Donald Rochl (grades 4-6)
Vermette School during local Seine River flooding (spring 1942)
Source: “Seine rampages to 50-year high [photo caption],” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 April 1942, page 13.Site Location (lat/long): N49.80128, W97.06709
denoted by symbol on the map above
Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 & 1911 Canada censuses, Automated Genealogy.
“Riel - Vermette,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 November 1913, page 7.
“Dr. Thornton visits bilingual schools,” Manitoba Free Press, 23 November 1915, page 10.
“St. Vital [A section of St. Germain School District],” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 February 1922, page 5.
“St. Vital [Vermette School District],” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 March 1922, page 5.
“Rural Municipality of St. Vital,” Manitoba Free Press, 17 March 1922, page 14.
“Rural Municipality of St. Vital,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 March 1922, page 12.
“St. Vital [Vermette School],” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 April 1922, page 6.
“Many homes under construction in Greater Winnipeg,” Manitoba Free Press, 27 May 1922, page 35.
“Vermette S.D. No. 970,” Manitoba Free Press, 27 July 1922, page 16.
“Aged pioneer laid to rest [Alexandre ”Alex.” Vermette],” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 October 1924, page 1.
“Nonagenarian passes [Antoinne Vermette],” Manitoba Free Press, 10 April 1924, page 2.
“Tenders [Vermette School District No. 970],” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 July 1928, page 19.
“Two living buffalo hunters tell vividly of old trails,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 November 1929, page 31.
“100 homes isolated by rampaging Seine,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 April 1942, page 13.
“More families homeless at Grand Point,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 April 1942, page 1.
“St. Vital passes bylaw protecting home-buyers,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 September 1949, page 3.
“Final St. Vital election results,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 October 1949, page 4.
“Red, Seine drive scores more from St. Vital,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 May 1950, page 12.
“Former Cathedral City nun marks 50th year in nursing,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 June 1953, page 11.
Obituary [Jules Vermette], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 April 1959, page 7.
“Flood shuts school in St. Vital,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 June 1959, page 3.
“Flood over, school opens,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 June 1959, page 4.
“School closed by flood,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 April 1960, page 3.
Archives of Manitoba fire insurance plan collection, Western Canada Fire Underwriters’ Association, St. Vital Sheet No. 21 November 1961, Archives of Manitoba.
Obituary [Sister St. Placide / Marie Josephine - Nancy Vermette], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 1971, page 16.
Obituary [Alice Lena Picard (?-1971)], Winnipeg Free Press, 12 November 1971, page 23.
Obituary [Robert Vermette], Winnipeg Free Press, 18 January 1972, page 26.
Obituary [William Vermette], Winnipeg Free Press, 2 February 1973, page 25.
“St. Vital School Division - property for sale - by tender,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 October 1984, page 37.
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.
Summative half-yearly returns for school districts (A 0051), GR0571, Archives of Manitoba.
Board of Education meeting minutes and office files (A 0052), GR1622, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), GR1628, Archives of Manitoba.
Trustee records regarding geographically remote schools directly administered by Department (E 0166), File 970 - Vermette - Permanent, GR1206, Archives of Manitoba.
School division and school district formation files (E 0027), Vermette School District No. 970, Archives of Manitoba.
School division and school district formation files (E 0027), St. Vital Municipal School District No. 2374, Archives of Manitoba.
Departmentally appointed school trustee files (E 0034), Vermette School District #970 - Miscellaneous, GR1629, Archives of Manitoba.
Departmentally appointed school trustee files (E 0034), Vermette School District #970 - Minute Books, GR1629, Archives of Manitoba.
Departmentally appointed school trustee files (E 0034), Vermette School District #970 - Cash Book, GR1629, Archives of Manitoba.
Departmentally appointed school trustee files (E 0034), Vermette School District #970 - Cash Sheets, GR1629, Archives of Manitoba.
Trustee records regarding geographically remote schools directly administered by Department (E 0166), File 970 - Vermette School District - Floor Plan for Addition to School, GR1206, Archives of Manitoba.
Trustee records regarding geographically remote schools directly administered by Department (E 0166), File 970 - Vermette, GR1206, Archives of Manitoba.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 21 November 2023
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