Historic Sites of Manitoba: Birchwood School (150 Moray Avenue, Winnipeg)

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

Birchwood School was designed in 1959 by the architectural firm of Libling Michener and Associates, taking its name from the surrounding residential development. Construction by the Roziere Construction Company began in the spring of 1959 and the school opened on 1 September 1959, with eight classes containing a total enrollment of 228 students. The school shared a Principal with Woodhaven School until 1967, having just a resident Vice-Principal until December 1961.

After the school closed, the building was used as a staff development centre by the St. James Assiniboia School Division.

Principals

Period

Principal

1959-1964

Paul Pura (1914-1999)

1964-1966

Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (1926-2012)

1966-1967

Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (1935-2017)

1967-1970

Walter Robert Barnes (c1930-1995)

1970-1972

Jim Friesen

1972-1973

Jack Van Den Bossche

1973-?

Merrill Dalmer Groff (1933-2023)

Teachers (partial list)

School Year

Teachers

1959-1960

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Mrs. Natalie Lenkewich (grade 5), Miss Maureen McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. Ethyl Sloan (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6)

1960-1961

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Miss M. McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. Mary B. Pass (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. V. Vandenberg (grade 6)

1961-1962

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Miss Donna Metcalfe (grade 6), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1962-1963

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Miss Edith Harder (grade 4), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1963-1964

Mrs. Marla-Jean Brickman (grade 2), Miss Maude Brown (grade 5), Mrs. E. A. Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 4), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)

1964-1965

Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Wenda Engbrecht (grade 5), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 6), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. Ethel Prefontaine (grades 1 and 2), Mr. John Somerville (grade 6)

1965-1966

Mrs. B. Armstrong (grades 1 and 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grades 3 and 4), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grade 3), Mr. John Somerville (grade 6)

1966-1967

Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mr. Victor Krenz (grade 6), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (Kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grades 2 and 3), Mrs. Rosemary Sanduliak (grades 1 and 2), Miss G. Thiele (Kindergarten)

1967-1968

Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Phyllis Digby (grade 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (Kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Miss Phyllis Petz (grade 2), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Miss Eleanor Preece (grade 2), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. S. Smulan (grade 6), Mrs. Ann Topping (grade 3), Mrs. Beverley Zakaluk (Kindergarten)

1968-1969

Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Sandra Madson (grade 5), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Miss Margaret Naaykens (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Miss Leslie Quayle (grade 3)

1969-1970

Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Linea Doshen (grade 3), Mrs. Leslie Hoole (grade 4), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 4), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1970-1971

Mrs. Gillian Alexander (grade 4), Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 5), Mrs. Louise Buhr (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mr. Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1971-1972

Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 3), Miss Sandra Breckman (grade 6), Mr. Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Sylvia Klawis (grade 2), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Bonnie MeMurren (grade 4), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)

1972-1973

Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Boutelier (grade 4), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grade 2), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5), Mr. Jack Van Den Bossche (grade 6)

1973-1974

Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 5), Mr. Merrill Groff (grade 6), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grades 2 and 3), Mr. Earl Turko (grade 4)

1974-1975

Miss Barbara Blackman (grades 3 and 4), Mr. Merrill Groff (grade 6), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Pickett (grade 5), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grade 2), Mr. Earl Turko (grades 5 and 6)

Photos & Coordinates

The former Birchwood School building (October 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87465, W97.26341
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

History of Birchwood School, St. James Assiniboia School Division, 1974.

We thank Mari-Jean Nachtigall and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 April 2023

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Period	Principal
1959-1964	Paul Pura (1914-1999)
1964-1966	Donald Taylor “Don” McKinnon (1926-2012)
1966-1967	Ronald Edward “Ron” Littlejohn (1935-2017)
1967-1970	Walter Robert Barnes (c1930-1995)
1970-1972	Jim Friesen
1972-1973	Jack Van Den Bossche
1973-?	Merrill Dalmer Groff (1933-2023)

School Year	Teachers
1959-1960	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Mrs. Natalie Lenkewich (grade 5), Miss Maureen McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. Ethyl Sloan (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6)
1960-1961	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Miss M. McGrath (grade 2), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. Mary B. Pass (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. V. Vandenberg (grade 6)
1961-1962	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Miss Donna Metcalfe (grade 6), Miss Simone Monchamp (grade 4), John Neufeld (grade 6, Vice-Principal), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1962-1963	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Dora Gray (grade 1), Miss Edith Harder (grade 4), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 5), Mr. Thomas Jaffray (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1963-1964	Mrs. Marla-Jean Brickman (grade 2), Miss Maude Brown (grade 5), Mrs. E. A. Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Lois Hiebert (grade 4), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 5), Mr. L. Melnyk (grade 6), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. G. Vandenberg (grade 6), Mrs. Olive Wiebe (grade 2)
1964-1965	Mrs. Ella Brown (grade 3), Mrs. Wenda Engbrecht (grade 5), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Miss Joyce Hill (grade 6), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. Ethel Prefontaine (grades 1 and 2), Mr. John Somerville (grade 6)
1965-1966	Mrs. B. Armstrong (grades 1 and 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Donna Hastings (grade 2), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grades 3 and 4), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grade 3), Mr. John Somerville (grade 6)
1966-1967	Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mr. Victor Krenz (grade 6), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (Kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Miss Pat Rodger (grades 2 and 3), Mrs. Rosemary Sanduliak (grades 1 and 2), Miss G. Thiele (Kindergarten)
1967-1968	Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Phyllis Digby (grade 2), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Mrs. Patricia O’Greysick (Kindergarten), Mrs. Joanna Parisian (grade 5), Miss Phyllis Petz (grade 2), Mrs. R. Pratt (grade 3), Miss Eleanor Preece (grade 2), Mrs. D. Prefontaine (grade 1), Mrs. S. Smulan (grade 6), Mrs. Ann Topping (grade 3), Mrs. Beverley Zakaluk (Kindergarten)
1968-1969	Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Helen Friesen (grade 4), Miss Sandra Madson (grade 5), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Miss Margaret Naaykens (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Miss Leslie Quayle (grade 3)
1969-1970	Mr. Walter Barnes (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mrs. Linea Doshen (grade 3), Mrs. Leslie Hoole (grade 4), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 4), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Noreen Perry (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1970-1971	Mrs. Gillian Alexander (grade 4), Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 5), Mrs. Louise Buhr (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Danielson (grade 1), Mr. Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Linda Matheson (grade 3), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Munro (grade 2), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1971-1972	Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 3), Miss Sandra Breckman (grade 6), Mr. Jim Friesen (grade 6), Miss Sylvia Klawis (grade 2), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Bonnie MeMurren (grade 4), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5)
1972-1973	Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 3), Mrs. Sandra Boutelier (grade 4), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grade 2), Mrs. Sandra Toyne (grade 5), Mr. Jack Van Den Bossche (grade 6)
1973-1974	Miss Barbara Blackman (grade 5), Mr. Merrill Groff (grade 6), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Georgia Purdy (grade 6), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grades 2 and 3), Mr. Earl Turko (grade 4)
1974-1975	Miss Barbara Blackman (grades 3 and 4), Mr. Merrill Groff (grade 6), Miss Carole Locht (grade 1), Mrs. Irene McAllister (Kindergarten), Mrs. Mavis Pickett (grade 5), Mrs. Sylvia Shore (grade 2), Mr. Earl Turko (grades 5 and 6)