Historic Sites of Manitoba: Vincent Massey Collegiate (975 Dowker Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

Operated by the Fort Garry School Division, this secondary school on Dowker Avenue in Winnipeg, designed by the architectural firm of Smith Carter Searle and Associates and opened in Fall 1960, was named for Charles Vincent Massey (1887-1967) who was Canada’s Governor-General from 1952 to 1959. Previously, local collegiate grades were taught at Viscount Alexander School.

Principals

Period

Principal

1960-1963

Alfred Leslie Stevens (1920-2004)

1963-1966

William Moore (1914-1983)

1966-1967

James William “Jim” Downey (1925-1996)

1967-1987

Ralph Sotolov (1924-2019)

1987-1989

David James “Dave” Trainor (1932-1991)

1989-1999

Gerald Allen Neynoe MacLeod (1943-2021)

1999-2011

Richard “Rick” Martin

2011-2014

Iain Riffel

2014-?

Tony Carvey

?-2020

?

2020-present

Sharon Labossiere

Vice-Principals

Period

Vice-Principal

1962-1965

James William “Jim” Downey (1925-1996)

1965-1967

Ralph Sotolov (1924-2019)

1967-1987

David James “Dave” Trainor (1932-1991)

1987-2023

?

2023-2024

Ms. S. MIllar
Ms. C. Smith

Teachers

School Year

Teachers

1960-1961

Kelvin Bramadat (grade 10), James William Downey (grade 11), Marie Elisa Houde (grade 12), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 10), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), John George Latter (grade 11), Norma Lightowler (ungraded, September-December), Florence Lipsett (grade 12), Bertha Eliza Nelson (grade 12), Aleck James Robson (grade 11), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), Reginald Robert Skene (grade 10), Ralph Sotolov (grade 11), John Edwin Wellwood (grade 10), Nina Blanche Whalen (ungraded, January-June), Cyril Crawford Whitaker (grade 11), Anne Mary Wild (grade 10)

1961-1962

(incomplete) Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), Arthur Reid Nicol (grade 11), Aleck James Robson (grade 11), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), Reginald Robert Skene (grade 10), Kathryn Irma Unruh (grade 10), John Edwin Wellwood (grade 10), Louise Mary Vaun White (grade 10), Anne Mary Wild (grade 12), Lucille Helene Wilson (grade 10), ?

1962-1963

Kelvin Bramadat (grade 11), Carl Braun (grade 10), Louise Mary Vaun White Dacquay (grades 11-12, September-February), Kathleen Elizabeth Gaskell (grade 11), Robert Melville Gunson (grade 10), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 10), Mary Isabelle Jensen (grades 11-12, March-June), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), John George Latter (grade 12), Jerry Victor Marek (grade 10), Gary Charles Martin (grade 10), Jacquelyn Winnifred Milton (grade 10), John Franklin Morrison (grade 10), Bertha Eliza Nelson (grade 12), Robert Michael Alexander Park (grade 10), George Adair Robb (grade 11), Aleck James Robson (grade 11), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), Reginald Robert Skene (grade 11), Ralph Sotolov (grade 12), Irene Cathrine Jane Unrau (grade 10), Kathryn Irma Unruh (grade 11), Patricia Jane Walterson (grade 10), Anne Mary Wild (grade 12)

1963-1964

Kelvin Bramadat (grade 11), Kathleen Elizabeth Gaskell (grade 12), Robert Melville Gunson (grade 11), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 10), Constance Jane Kalichak (grade 10), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), John George Latter (grade 12), Martha Ellen Lough (grade 11), Jerry Victor Marek (grade 10), Gary Charles Martin (grade 10), John Franklin Morrison (grade 10), Anne Marie Murray (grade 11), Bertha Eliza Nelson (grade 12), Mary Esther O’Malley (grade 11), Doreen Farquharson Steven Pruden (grade 10), Victor William Pruden (grade 10), George Adair Robb (grade 11), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), Reginald Robert Skene (grade 11), Ralph Sotolov (grade 12), David James Trainor (grade 11), Irene Cathrine Jane Unrau (grade 10), Anne Mary Wild (grade 12)

1964-1965

Kelvin Bramadat (grade 12), Margaret Anne Charlton (grade 10, January-June), David William Curtis (grade 11), Roxy Freedman (grade 10), Dorothea Beatrice Getschel (grade 11), Meredith Lynne Harrod (grade 10, September-December), Bryant Moloy Hasker (grade 10), Nestor Alexander “Mickey/Mick” Hersak (grade 12), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 11), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), John George Latter (grade 11), Donald Thomas Maluk (grade 10), Edward G. Mann (grade 10), Jerry Victor Marek (grade 10), Gary Charles Martin (grade 10), John Franklin Morrison (grade 10), Bertha Eliza Nelson (grade 12), Mary Esther O’Malley (grade 11), Robert Michael Alexander Park (grade 12), Doreen Farquharson Steven Pruden (grade 12), Anne-Marie Rigaux (grade 10), George Adair Robb (grade 11), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), David James Trainor (grade 11), Irene Cathrine Jane Unrau (grade 11), Kathryn Unruh (grade 12), Anne Mary Wild (grade 12)

1965-1966

Virginia Beatty Andrew (grade 12), David Arnason (grade 11), Peter Black (grade 11, January-June), Kenneth Harold Charlesworth (grade 11, September-December), David William Curtis (grade 12), John Alan Dyck (grade 12), David Froese (grade 12), Marie Grinchuk (grade 10), Bryant Moloy Hasker (grade 10), Nestor Alexander “Mickey/Mick” Hersak (grade 12), Jacob Hiebert (grade 12), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 11), Violet Phyllis Keyworth (grade 11), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), Donald Thomas Maluk (grade 10), Edward G. Mann (grade 10), Jerry Victor Marek (grade 10), Gary Charles Martin (grade 11), John Franklin Morrison (grade 10), D. Muzychuk (grade 10, September-October), Bertha Eliza Nelson (grade 10, September-December), Arthur Reid Nicol (grade 12), Stephen John Oliver (grade 10, January-June), Mary Esther O&rsquio;Malley (grade 11), Victor William Pruden (grade 10, November-June), Anne-Marie Rigaux (grade 10), Eldon George Simms (grade 11), Christopher Edwin Thain (grade 12), David James Trainor (grade 11), John Edwin Wellwood (grade 11)

1966-1967

Virginia Beatty Andrew (grade 12), Ronald Colin Anthony (grade 12, January-June), L. Axworthy (grade 12), Peter Black (grade 12), Barbara Joyce Churcher (grade 10), Evelyn Lois Driedger (grade 11, January-June), John Alan Dyck (grade 12), Raoul Folland Ferraton (grade 11), Bryant Moloy Hasker (grade 10), Marion Eileen Henry (grade 11, September-December), Jacob Hiebert (grade 12), Nestor Alexander “Mickey/Mick” Hersak (grade 11), Joseph Maurice Hogue (grade 12, September-December), Philip Robert Jackson (grade 12), Henry Klassen (grade 10), Gerhard Hellmut Labies (grade 10), Donald Thomas Maluk (grade 10), Edward G. Mann (grade 10), Gary Charles Martin (grade 11), John Franklin Morrison (grade 10), Arthur Reid Nicol (grade 10), Alvin Henry Neustaedter (grade 11), Eldred Norton (grade 10), John Lloyd Park (grade 10), Christopher Edwin Thain (grade 10), Katherine Isabel Urquhart (grade 11), John Edwin Wellwood (grade 10), Anne Mary Wild (grade 12)

1967-1968

Virginia Beatty Andrew, John Franklin Morrison, ?

Among the other teachers at Vincent Massey Collegiate were John Franklin Morrison (1968-1974).

Photos & Coordinates

Vincent Massey Collegiate

Vincent Massey Collegiate (August 2014)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Vincent Massey Collegiate

Vincent Massey Collegiate (April 2021)
Source: George Penner

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.83933, W97.15047
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Smith Carter and Katelnikoff / Smith Carter Architects and Engineers / Architecture49

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Vincent Massey High School (715 McDiarmid Drive, Brandon)

Sources:

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

“More construction,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 1960, page 71.

“Fort Garry school to hold tea-sale,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 December 1967, page 15.

“Supplies for Nicaragua,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly South, 16 October 1988, page 5.

“Asian studies pushed for Dakota, Vincent Massey,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly South, 9 June 1991, page 3.

“South-end high school rumbles put up three students in hospital,” Winnipeg Free Press, 7 May 1999, page A8.

“Death threat sidelines goalie,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 April 2005, page B1.

“Summer program faces rental fee,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 August 1986, page 3.

“Social events [Ralph Sotolov],” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 1987, page 29.

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

Manitoba School Records Collection, Fort Garry School Division No. 5 (Vincent Massey Collegiate) - Daily Registers, GR10356, Archives of Manitoba.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Fort Garry School Division No. 5 (Vincent Massey Collegiate) - Daily Registers, GR10896, Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Steven Christianson, Ken Neil, and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 26 September 2023

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 | Other

Inclusion 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.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!