Historic Sites of Manitoba: Andrew Mynarski VC School (1111 Machray Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

Built in 1954 and opened officially in September 1955, the Andrew Mynarski VC School honours Victoria Cross recipient Andrew Charles Mynarski. It had originally been planned to be named Lord Tweedsmuir School in recognition of the Governor General of Canada from 1935 to 1940. The decision was reversed after great public protest and petitions from Joseph Zuken, Alexander Turk, William J. Sisler, and throngs of veterans and North End citizens. An opening ceremony on 10 November 1955 featured an RCAF fly-by, Mynarski’s mother, and five of the six aircrew members from Mynarski’s last flight, including Rear Gunner Pat Brophy who Mynarski had saved at the loss of his own life.

The original school building had 15 classrooms, an auditorium, gymnasium, and service rooms. An additional four classrooms were added in 1960-1961 and another addition was made in 1965. The northeast corner of the school lot was sold in 1963 for construction of a community library.

Principals

Period	Principal
1955-1970	Orville Ernest Holmes (1905-1987)
1970-1973	John Edward Dack (1912-1984)
1973-1975	Henry Trevor “Harry” Edwards (1921-2017)
1975-1987	Thomas “Tom” Springman (1932-2008)
1988-1990	Jim Duncan
1990-1993	Terry J. McLean
1993-1998	John A. Jack
1998-2004	?
2004-2008	Mike Babb
2008-2013	Douglas Taylor
2013-2019	Greg Bouchard
2019-?	Cristina Da Mata

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1955-1956	Miss E. Arnott, J. Derewianko, J. Dorfman, J. A. Hall, F. Hastings, Mrs. J. Jackson, J. Kereluk, Miss I. Koop, Miss J. Miskolcy, J. Mozel, P. Mudrey, R. Romalis, Alexander J. Smaluk
1956-1957	J. Dorfman, D. R. Dougherty, H. Funk, F. Hastings, Mrs. M. Jackson, Cornelius J. Jaenen, J. Kereluk, Miss L. Koop, Miss J. Law, A. Magnusson, Miss J. Miskolcy, J. Mozel, P. Mudery, P. Rooney, E. Simms, Miss G. Sivertson, Miss V. Webber, Miss D. White
1957-1958	Elementary Department: Miss G. Alsop, Miss M. E. Bjornson, H. DeJersey, Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon. Intermediate Department: J. Dorfman, H. Funk, F. Hastings, Bernice G. Hearn, Cornelius J. Jaenen, Miss J. Law, A. Magnusson, J. Mozel, P. Mudery, P. Rooney, Miss G. Sivertson, Miss V. Webber, Miss D. White
1958-1959	Elementary Department: Miss M. A. ?, Mrs. G. M. Patterson, Miss A. Stech, Miss D. Whyte. Intermediate Department: Miss M. Bjornson, H. DeJersey, Mrs. I. Dackman, H. Funk, F. Ha?, Bernice G. Hearn, Mrs. J. Law, A. Morganson, J. Mozel, P. Mudery, P. Rooney, Miss G. Sivertson, Miss V. Webber
1959-1960	Intermediate Department: Miss S. Bilsk, G. Blou?, H. DeJersey, Dr. M. Golubchuk, F. Hastings, Bernice G. Hearn, J. T. Kragbo, Mrs. J. Law, A. Magnusson, A. O. McConkey, Miss H. McLeod, J. Mozel, P. Mudery, L. S??nema, Miss G. Sivertson, Miss A. Stech, Miss V. Webber, G. G. Weldon
1960-1961	Intermediate Department: Miss S. Bilyk, G. Bloudoff, Miss P. Choslovsky, Miss E. M. Lavender, Miss J. Law, Miss B. Leitch, M. L. Loadman, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, M. M. Lot, J. Mozel, P. Mudery, J. Nolan, M. J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittarsill, J. Rafknelson, M. Shklanka, Miss G. Sivertson, Miss A. Stech, R. D. Thiessen, Miss I. Toews
1961-1962	Intermediate Department: Miss S. Bilyk, A. D. Bradshaw, Miss P. Choskrvsky, Miss L. Dickson, F. Froese, Miss J. Law, Miss B. Leitch, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, M. M’Lot, J. Mozel, J. Nolan, M. J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittareill, Mrs. C. Queen, J. Rafknelson, Miss A. Stech, R. D. Talessen, Miss I. Toews, Miss D. Uman, Lewis E. Walker
1962-1963	?
1963-1964	Intermediate Department: G. Andrusco, L. Baron, Miss S. Bass, Miss S. Bilyk, Miss J. Gillis, J. Hunt, A. Magnusson, Mrs. P. Marks, J. Martens, E. L. McClinton, E. Melnyk, F. Mikolayenko, D. W. Munro, Miss P. Off, M. J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittarelli, Mrs. N. Poldevin, J. Rafknelson, F. G. Schick, Mrs. S. Souchay, Miss A. Stech, Miss I. Toews
1964-1965	Intermediate Department: G. Andrusco, L. Baron, Ronald Walter Baron, Miss S. Bass, Miss S. Bilyk, H. Fenz, Miss J. Gillis, J. Hunt, Mrs. L. Klysh, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, E. L. McClinton, E. Melnyk, F. Mikolayenko, D. W. Munro, Miss P. Off, M. J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittarelli, J. Rafknelson, T. Ray, Miss A. Stech, Miss I. Toews, Miss M. Wiebe
1965-1966	Intermediate Department: R. Advice, G. Andrusco, L. Baron, Ronald Walter Baron, Miss S. Bilyk, V. Bonin, Mrs. L. Conner, Mrs. E. Davidow, Miss J. Gillis, F. Loewen, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, F. Mikolayenko, M. J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittarelli, J. Rafknelson, S. M. Rizvi, R. Sawchuk, Miss A. Stech, P. Susky, Miss M. Wiebe
1966-1967	Secondary Department: R. Advice, L. Baron, Ronald Walter Baron, V. Bonin, G. Calder, Mrs. J. Carnegie, D. Debrinsky, S. Fossaner, M. Harris, F. Loewen, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, Miss D. Morris, P. Mudery, J. Patterson, Miss M. Pittarelli, R. Sawchuk, Miss N. Schmidt, Miss A. Stech, Miss M. Wiebe
1967-1968	Secondary Department: R. Advice, L. Baron, V. Bonin, G. Calder, Miss B. Deyman, D. Dobrinsky, S. Fossaner, Miss E. Kohut, W. Kollsynyk, F. Loewen, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, P. Mudery, M. Openshaw, Miss M. Piattarelli, C. S. Rosznik, R. P. Sawchuk, Miss N. Schmidt, T. D. Shewan, D. R. Smorang, Miss A. Stech, J. Weber
1968-1969	R. Advice, L. Baron, V. Bonin, D. Dobrinsky, R. J. Dooley, Miss A. Gryz, Miss E. Hayward, F. Loewen, A. Magnusson, J. Martens, Mrs. A. McIntyre, Miss K. E. McKay, P. Mudery, N. Nightingale, Miss M. Paslowski, J. Patterson, W. J. Rhoda, C. S. Rocznik, Miss N. Schmidt, Miss A. Stech, Mrs. F. Waugh, J. Weber, Miss E. Yacula

Photos & Coordinates

Andrew Mynarski VC School (no date) Source: Ethan Sahagun Andrew Mynarski VC School (April 2020) Source: Nathan Kramer Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.93557, W97.16453 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Andrew Charles Mynarski (1916-1944)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Andrew Mynarski Statue (Vimy Ridge Park, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Andrew C. Mynarski VC Plaque (Kildonan Park, Winnipeg)

Sources:

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

School division half-yearly attendance reports, Archives of Manitoba.

“Hero’s school open; big crowd attends,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 November 1955, page 3.

“Choice of Principals divides trustees,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 1973, page 3.

“Majority like idea of school meal plan,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 October 1974, page 85.

“School to get portrait of war hero Mynarski,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 1977, page 3.

“Taxi owner flags Star for new venture,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 July 1989, page 24.

“Principals express concern for students,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly Northern Edition, 19 March 1989, page 4.

“McLean new Principal,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly Northern Edition, 8 July 1990, page 3.

“Division tackes racism ‘head-on’,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 December 1993, page A13.

“Police surround junior high school,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 Oct 1995, page A5.

“Black community honours achievers,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 March 1998, page A2.

“Principal vacancies filled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 June 2004, page B10.

“Mynarski name was a tough sell,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 April 2006, page B3.

“Trans fats banned in schools,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 November 2007, page A6.

Winnipeg School Division: Celebrating One Hundred Fifty Years, 1871-2021 by Winnipeg School Division, 2021.

We thank the Winnipeg School Division, Ethan Sahagun, and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 6 July 2022

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