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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
The Woodhaven School District No. 2092 was formed in October 1921, with organizational meeting of the new district held at 135 Sunnyside Boulevard. At the time of its founding, the district’s population was around 800, with most having moved to the area within the two preceding years. Prior to the school’s opening, students of the area attended Britannia School.
In April 1922, a construction contract was awarded to Williams & Ireland Company, and a one-storey, three-classroom brick structure designed by architect Gilbert C. “Gil” Parfitt was erected at a cost of about $37,000. The school was sited on three acres of land backing onto Sturgeon Creek, on Glendale Avenue (later Glendale Boulevard). The brick structure included four classrooms on the floor and a gymnasium in the basement, and was opened officially on 17 November 1922 by Robert Fletcher at a ceremony attended by William Dowell Bayley and citizens of the school district. There were 88 students in grades 1 to 10, with instruction at the grade 11 level added the following year.
In May 1925, the school became part of the St. James Municipal School District and later the St. James School Division. In 1936, the school received a new foundation designed by the firm of Pratt and Ross and built by George Ephraim Baldry. Class growth continued and, in August 1954, the basement gymnasium was converted to a classroom.
To accommodate the growing needs and demands on an aging structure, a new eight-classroom school was designed by the architectural firm of Smith Carter and Katelnikoff, and constructed between 1956 and 1957 by the Roziere Construction Company at a cost of about $118,000. It opened on 13 March 1957 and, despite several local requests for use of the original school building, it was demolished by a Mr. A. Vincent at no cost to the School Board.
Woodhaven School closed in late June 1984 due to falling enrollment and the remaining students were transferred to Athlone School. At the time of its closing, the building had 12,600 square feet of space, eight classrooms, gymnasium, library, office space, and gas boiler heating. After community input, the School Division refused several submitted plans for the former school building and it was demolished in the mid-1990s to make way for a residential subdivision.
The datestone from the former school is located beneath a park bench at about N49.87235, W97.27048. Blueprints for the original school building are held at the Archives of Manitoba (GR2053).
Period
Principal
1922-1923
William John Gordon Scott (1885-1953)
1923-1924
Frederick Donald MacKenzie (1882-1970)
1924-1926
Frederick Edward “Fred” Tinkler (1887-1977)
1926-1928
?
1928-1930
William John “Bill” Wallace (1900-1988)
1930-1938
?
1938-1942
Irene Lovell (1892-1974)
1942-1949
John Frederick Woods (1905-1949)
1949-1952
William Harvey Van Sickle (1917-1982)
1952-1964
Paul Pura (1914-1999)
1964-1966
Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (1926-2012)
1966-1967
Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (1935-2017)
1967-1969
William H. “Bill” Engbrecht
1969-1973
George Edward Brown (1936-2016)
1973-1974
William Theodore “Bill” Betz (1936-2022)
1974-1981
Peter Sawatsky (1926-2006)
1981-1982
John Abram Neufeld (1927-2015)
1982-1984
Mrs. Anne Masniuk
School Year
Teachers
1922-1923
Lula Muriel McLure (grades 3-6), William John Gordon Scott (grades 7-10), Inez Isabel Watson (grades 1-3)
1923-1924
Isabell C. Dow (grades 1-3), Mabel E. Finch (grades 3-6), Frederick Donald MacKenzie (grades 7-11)
1924-1925
Isabell C. Dow (grades 1-3), Isa May Hearn (grades 4-6), Frederick Edward “Fred” Tinkler (grades 7-11)
1925-1926
Isabell C. Dow (grades 1-2, August-December), Vivian Hilda Durden (grades 3-5, August-December; grades 1-3, January-June), Lydia May Blanche Higgins (grades 4-7, ?-June), Frederick Edward “Fred” Tinkler (grades 6-8, August-December; grades 4-7, January-?)
1926-1927
?
1927-1928
?
1928-1929
William John “Bill” Wallace (senior grades), ?
1929-1930
William John “Bill” Wallace (senior grades), ?
1930-1931
?
1931-1932
?
1932-1933
?
1933-1934
?
1934-1935
?
1935-1936
?
1936-1937
?
1937-1938
?
1938-1939
Irene Lovell (senior grades), ?
1939-1940
Irene Lovell (senior grades), ?
1940-1941
Irene Lovell (senior grades), ?
1941-1942
Irene Lovell (senior grades), ?
1942-1943
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1943-1944
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1944-1945
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1945-1946
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1946-1947
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1947-1948
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1948-1949
John Frederick Woods (senior grades), ?
1949-1950
William Harvey Van Sickle (senior grades), ?
1950-1951
William Harvey Van Sickle (senior grades), ?
1951-1952
William Harvey Van Sickle (senior grades), ?
1952-1953
Paul Pura (senior grades), ?
1953-1954
Paul Pura (senior grades), ?
1954-1955
Paul Pura (senior grades), ?
1955-1956
Miss Betty Gibson, Miss Adele Kolt, Paul Pura (senior grades), Miss P. E. Strowger
1956-1957
Paul Pura (senior grades), ?
1957-1958
Neil Bobbie, Evelyn Brimacombe, Helen Briske, Shirley Gibb, Joyce Hill, Miss Laferriere, Dolores Paterson, Paul Pura (senior grades), Pearl Reid, Leona Senior, Mary Unger
1958-1959
Neil Bobbie, Joyce Hill, Dolores Paterson, Dorothy Prefontaine, Paul Pura (senior grades), Pearl Reid, Leona Senior
1959-1960
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Dolores Paterson, Dorothy Prefontaine, Paul Pura (senior grades), Pearl Reid, Harold Rempco
1960-1961
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Florence Lowry, Dolores Paterson, Jean Popoff, Paul Pura (senior grades), Ethyl May Sloan, Jules Raymond “Jack” Van Den Bossche
1961-1962
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Jean Hall, Peter Lewis, Dolores Paterson, Paul Pura (senior grades), Ethyl May Sloan
1962-1963
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Jean Hall, Peter Lewis, Dolores Paterson, Paul Pura (senior grades), Ethyl May Sloan
1963-1964
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Jean Hall, Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn, Dolores Paterson, Paul Pura (senior grades), Pearl Reid, Ethyl May Sloan
1964-1965
Doreen Davidson, Vivian Glass, Jean Hall, Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn, Dolores Paterson, Mary Jane Ramsey, Pearl Reid, Ethyl May Sloan, Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (senior grades)
1965-1966
David Frye, Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn, Ethel McPhail, Dolores Paterson, Jean Popoff, Mary Jane Ramsey, Pearl Reid, Ethyl May Sloan, Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (senior grades), Frank H. Voth
1966-1967
William “Bill” Engbrecht, David William “Dave” Frye, Jean Hall, Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (senior grades), Ethel McPhail, Dolores Paterson, Mary Jane Ramsey, Pearl Reid, Ethyl May Sloan
1967-1968
Dolores Fekete, David William “Dave” Frye, Shirley Gibb, Jean Hall, Ethel McPhail, Ethyl May Sloan, Edith Stevens
1968-1969
Dolores Fekete, David William “Dave” Frye, Shirley Gibb, Beverly McConnel, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White, Beverley Lois Zakaluk
1969-1970
George Edward Brown (senior grade), Dolores Fekete, Shirley Gibb, Beverly McConnel, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White, Beverley Lois Zakaluk
1970-1971
George Edward Brown (senior grade), Dolores Fekete, Shirley Gibb, Pearl Reid, Beverly Sloan, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White, Beverley Lois Zakaluk
1971-1972
George Edward Brown (senior grade), Jeannetta Curtis, Colette Dauphinais, Shirley Gibb, Evelyn Mary Hagen, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White
1972-1973
George Edward Brown (senior grade), Colette Dauphinais, Shirley Gibb, Evelyn Mary Hagen, Pearl Reid, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White, Beverley Lois Zakaluk
1973-1974
William Theodore “Bill” Betz (senior grade), Colette Dauphinais, Shirley Gibb, Evelyn Mary Hagen, Georgina Agnes Sanford, Ethyl May Sloan, Florence May White, Beverley Lois Zakaluk
1974-1975
Frances Alice Chobotar (grade 3), Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Georgina Helen Purdy (0.8, Principal relief), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 4), Peter Sawatsky (grade 6), Ethyl May Sloan (grade 1), Lois Smellie (?), Florence May White (grade 5), Beverley Lois Zakaluk (kindergarten)
1975-1976
Colette Bertha Dauphinais (grade 3), L. Anne Finkbiner (grades 1-2), Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Beverly Joan Lawrence (kindergarten, 0.8; resource, 0.2), Georgina Helen Purdy (music, 0.8; Principal relief, 0.2), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 4), Peter Sawatsky (grade 6), Florence May White (grade 5)
1976-1977
Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Hugh William Ritchie (grade 1), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 4), Peter Sawatsky (grade 6), Irene E. Stadnyk (music, 0.4; Principal relief, 0.?), Beatrice Van Dongen (grade 3 and French), Florence May White (grade 5)
1977-1978
Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Mary Linda Hildebrand (music, 0.6; Principal relief, 0.?), Carole-Marie Locht (grade 6), Hugh William Ritchie (grade 1), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 5), Lael F. Tomes (grade 4), Beatrice Van Dongen (grade 3)
1978-1979
Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Carole-Marie Locht (grade 6), Hugh William Ritchie (grade 1), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 5), Margaret Patricia Saxton (kindergarten), Lael F. Tomes (grade 4), Beatrice Van Dongen (grade 3)
1979-1980
Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Carole-Marie Locht (grade 6), Timothy James Rafter (grade 4), Hugh William Ritchie (grade 1), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 5), Beatrice Van Dongen (grade 3)
1980-1981
Lynne Marcella Gauld (grade 4), Evelyn Mary Hagen (grade 2), Carole-Marie Locht (grade 6), Hugh William Ritchie (grade 1), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 5), Beatrice Van Dongen (grade 3)
1981-1982
Geeta Varuni Nirmala Bahadoosingh (grade 3), Catherine Margaret Fritsch (resource, 0.5 at Woodhaven School, 0.5 at Assiniboine School), Lynne Marcella Gauld (kindergarten and grade 2), Carole-Marie Locht (grade 1), Robert Austin Moore (grade 6), Kathryn Marcella Ramsay (grade 4), Georgina Agnes Sanford (grade 5), Patricia Leslie Steuart (teachers aide)
1982-1983
Geeta Varuni Nirmala Bahadoosingh Allen (grade 3 and French), Elizabeth Marie Arnold (resource, 0.3 at Woodhaven School, 0.3 at St. Charles School, 0.4 at Phoenix School), Carole-Marie Locht (kindergarten and grade 1), Robert Austin Moore (grade 6), Kathryn Marcella Ramsay (grade 2 and music), Harry Sheldon (grades 4-5), Patricia Leslie Steuart (teachers aide)
1983-1984
Geeta Varuni Nirmala Bahadoosingh Allen (grade 3 and French), Elizabeth Marie Arnold (resource, 0.3 at Woodhaven School, 0.3 at Athlone School, 0.4 at Lincoln School), Joyce Ellen Brook (kindergarten and grades 1-2), Bruce Douglas Dearlove (no grade, 0.3 at Woodhaven School, 0.7 at Athlone School), Kathryn Marcella Ramsay Hearsum (grade 4 and music), Harry Sheldon (grades 5-6), Patricia Leslie Steuart (teachers aide)
Blueprint of west elevation for Woodhaven School (1922) by Gilbert Parfitt
Source: Manitoba School Records Collection, Woodhaven School District No. 2092 - Architectural Plans, GR2053, Archives of Manitoba.
Blueprint of basement floor plan for Woodhaven School (1922) by Gilbert Parfitt
Source: Manitoba School Records Collection, Woodhaven School District No. 2092 - Architectural Plans, GR2053, Archives of Manitoba.
Blueprint of ground floor plan for Woodhaven School (1922) by Gilbert Parfitt
Source: Manitoba School Records Collection, Woodhaven School District No. 2092 - Architectural Plans, GR2053, Archives of Manitoba.
Woodhaven School (circa 1935)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 30 March 1935, page 22.
Woodhaven School beside Sturgeon Creek (circa 1938)
Source: Belle Cameron
Woodhaven School (circa 1938)
Source: Belle Cameron
Datestone from the former Woodhaven School (September 2021)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87222, W97.27129
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Pratt and Ross
Manitoba Business: Roziere Construction Company
Historic Sites of Manitoba: The Hill Monument (Ashcroft Point, Winnipeg)
Manitoba Business: Smith Carter and Katelnikoff / Smith Carter Architects and Engineers / Architecture49
“Sturgeon Creek,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 February 1922, page 5.
“Home and school building forecasts active season in construction industry,” Manitoba Free Press, 8 April 1922, page 20.
“Sturgeon Creek,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 13 April 1922, page 7.
“School building in St. James district illustrates school population growth,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 26 April 1922, page 2.
“St. James,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 18 November 1922, page 11.
“Jean Litchfield winner spelling bee at Woodhaven,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 April 1924, page 5.
“St. James has modern school,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 March 1935 page 22.
“Further improvement to Woodhaven School,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 25, November 1936, page 10.
“Woodhaven has graduation and school display,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 July 1938 page 27.
“Trustees name Superintendent for St. James," Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1949, page 3.
“Woodhaven School gets new Principal," Winnipeg Tribune, 17 August 1949, page 7.
“St. James Municipal S.D. No. 7,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 June 1952, page 32.
“Thirty-one new classrooms to start in St. James district,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 1954, page 3.
“Address List, Municipal School District of St. James No. 7,” St. James Assiniboia School Division.
“School tender notice [Woodhaven Elementary School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 June 1956, page 23.
Municipality of St. James Building Permit 8460/1956 [Woodhaven], Box A1261, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Official opening of Woodhaven School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1957, page 53.
“Women to join in quest of knowledge,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 October 1958, page 9.
“History of Woodhaven School, 127 Glendale Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1922-1974,” St. James Assiniboia School Division.
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.
“School closing plan irks parents' group,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 June 1983, page 3.
“St. James Assiniboia School Division No. 2 Request proposals to lease,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 June 1984, page 14.
“Seminary opponent had own school plan,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 1988, page 1.
“Woodhaven School too small for either plan, Ayers maintains,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 September 1988, page 4.
“Should school become native study centre,” Winnipeg Free Press, 25 September 1988, page 7.
“Empty schools go up for sale,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1993, page B3.
“Process ignores community interests,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 August 1995, page A7.
Obituary [Pearl Reid], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 June 2010.
Corporate Security registered documents (ATG 0089), #15 School District of Woodhaven, GR12576, Archives of Manitoba.
Corporate Security registered documents (ATG 0089), #17 School District of Woodhaven, GR12576, Archives of Manitoba.
Manitoba School Records Collection, Woodhaven School District No. 2092 - Architectural Plans, GR2053, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
School division student yearly attendance reports (E 0758A), Archives of Manitoba.
We thank the St. James Assiniboia School Division and Belle Cameron for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 3 November 2024
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