by Fred Morris
September 2022, updated July 2026
College Street in St. James is first listed in the 1907 Henderson Directory. The street quickly became confused with College Avenue in Winnipeg's North End. Prior to the formation of St. James, a 1918 petition was presented to the Assiniboia Council to change College Street to Exmoor. The change did not happen. However, in 1959 the name was changed to Collegiate. Let us look at a little bit of the history of College now Collegiate.
On 16 July 1917, a couple of College Street children, Robert Sims (age 11) and Ernest Hunnisett (age 13), rescued two other children from drowning in the Assiniboine River at Assiniboine Park. On 16 April 1950, a small plane attempting to make an emergency landing crashed into a College Street garage. The pilot was seriously injured. Lorimer Fairhall was killed. Gilbert Hughes suffered a slight head injury. Mr. Fairhall and Mr. Hughes were College Street residents. College Street residents Verna La Roche, a registered nurse, and Don McLardy were some of the first people on the scene. On Sunday, 17 February 1957, the skating rink at Airways Community Club was in use. A RCAF Mitchell Bomber crashed into several College Street homes and garages. The plane came to rest against the Ferry Road (the next street to the west) home of Clarence and Fanny Campbell. The Free Press used the headline word "miracle" in a story stating "Without serious injury on the ground or in the plane." (page 1, Winnipeg Free Press, 18 February 1957). College Street residents Joan Mair, Mary Mair, James Mair, Vince Orchard, and Charlie McMunn are mentioned in the Free Press story.
On 19 September 1953, Airways Community Club officially opened. The day's activities included kiddies rides, playground baseball games between Airways and Deer Lodge, and a dance. In 1967, Airways won first prize in a Red River Ex Parade with the airplane float. The float was designed by Lloyd Stankey and decorated by Barbara Stankey, Betty Milne and the Stepettes. Ted Taylor, Harold Hanstead, Kathleen Kelman, Frank Minton and many others formed a large core of dedicated Airways Community Club volunteers. In 1975, Airways merged with Border Community Club. A refurbished tennis court is currently on the south east corner of Silver and Collegiate. The merged Club is Bord Aire not Bord Air, another made-in-St. James spelling controversy.
On 26 November 1922, St. James Anglican Church held their first service in their new building at 195 College Street. In 1942, a rectory for the Pastors was built on College just south of the church. The house was expanded in 1958 and upgraded in 1983. George Findlay, George Davidson, Morse Goodman, William Peeling, James Palmer, Paul Smith, and John Caird and their families lived in the rectory. Morse Goodman (pastor between 1953 and 1960) hosted a six-day-a-week CBC Radio family worship programme, wrote a column for the Country Guide periodical, and founded Ste. Bede's Anglican Church in Silver Heights. In 1995, St. James Anglicans sold the house. A Parish Hall was added in 1955. Many church and community events have been held in the Hall. These events include some of the Mary Wright Lilac Teas, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers, art classes by James and Hazel Birt, and square dancing. Anita Schmidt's book "On the Banks of the Assiniboine" is an excellent comprehensive history of St. James Anglican Church.
After almost a century, the Royal Bank at 1863 Portage has closed. The Chapman Goddard, Kagan law office is located at 1864 Portage Avenue. Prior to 1950, the distinctive looking building was home to Dominion Business College.
The St. James's College Street is first listed in the 1907 Henderson. The first residents were Teley, Susan and John Dickson, Robert Newell, William Bathino, and John Irvine. College Street residents have had a tremendous impact on the history of St. James. John Irvine founded a fuel company. His sons Bill and Bob later took over the company. Mary Irvine, John's wife, was a nurse. David Shearer was the building supervisor for the construction of the Fort Gary Hotel and the Bay Downtown. William Garthside served as the Chief of the St. James Police Department. His wife Mary hosted many Legion meetings in their College Street home. Samuel Morgan served 14 years as a St. James Alderman. Craig Kelman grew up on Collegiate. In 1980, he started Craig Kelman and Associates in St. James. They employ 30 people. Keiman and Associates publish print and digital publications. Bill Moir grew up on Collegiate Street. He played for the 1967 68 MJHL Champions St. James Canadians. On 10 March 1968, Bill scored the tying goal late in the third period on an end-to-end rush setting up Andy Van Hellmond's winner in the second overtime in one of the most memorable St. James Civic Centre hockey games. Between 1990 and 2014, Bill was a Tim Horton's executive based in Ontario. Since 2018, the St. James Collegiate has awarded the Bill Moir Scholarship to a student who excels in hockey and academics. Co-owner Sanjay Sewpaul of the St. James Burger and Chip established in 2017 sponsors a scholarship for two students (one at St. James Collegiate, and one at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate) who displays community activism and is a positive advocate for women's rights. During the 1960s and 1970s, Dora Moir worked in furniture stock control at Eatons.
The College Street children are frequently noted in the newspaper archives. In 1926, Hannah Harrison and Jean Pike won Winnipeg Free Press colouring contests. In 1927, Kathleen Fuller won the Free Press Maying Colouring Contest. In 1930, Mildred Morgan won the diamond medal in the Royal Templars elocution contest. In 1937, Alberta Shearer of St. James Collegiate Institute won the Governor Generals Medal, and the Daughters of the Empire Minnie Campbell Gold Medal.
Many Collegiate Street residents hold impressive longevity records. Beginning in Scotland, John Rossie was a union executive who served for 68 continuous years in the Carpenters Union. James Hutchinson was a hardware manager for 38 years at Eatons. Chris Tomes worked in food services for three different Race Tracks Whitter Park, Polo Park, and Assiniboia Downs. Chris lived to be 103 which included 58 years on Collegiate. Calvin and Lorna Jackson were married for 72 years.
Sophie and her daughter Iris Fresorger were members of St. Stephen's Lutheran. Iris's grade 11 short story "Unable to Forget" appeared in a St. James Collegiate yearbook.
Page revised: 12 July 2026
