Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This Winnipeg school’s concept was developed originally as a junior vocational school during a three-year, seven-classroom federal-provincial project at Aberdeen School between 1964 and 1967, during which the focus was altered from service training to a pre-apprenticeship model. In 1966, construction began on a new facility on Dufferin Avenue, with funding provided entirely by the federal and provincial governments. The facility was turned over to, and opened by, the Winnipeg School Division in September 1967. The school’s name, commemorating Robert Boyd “R. B.” Russell, was announced on 9 March 1966 by Minister of Education George Johnson.
Initial capacity at the Dufferin Avenue site was 700 students, with curriculum divided between academic and vocational pursuits, the latter including carpentry, painting, metal, mechanical, hairdressing, barbering, institutional and household training, hospital work, graphic arts for printing and commercial art, and a dry cleaning plant.
Period
Principal
1964-1969
Reevan Francis Barrett Cramer (1924-1998)
1969-1979
Harry Kreel
1979-1980
John Clawson “Jack” Smyth (1936-2007)
1980-1986
Garry Bruno Grubert (1942-2021)
1986-1989
Maxine Zimmerman
1989-1991
Brian O'Leary
1991-2002
Walter Keith “Wally” Stewart
2002-2008
Gary John Comack (1953-2013)
2008-2017
Beverly “Bev” Wahl
2017-2019
Jackie Connell
2019-?
Paul Krowiak
Period
Principal
1964-1966
?
1966-1969
Gordon Blair Fenton (1921-2006)
1969-1972
Henry Trevor “Harry” Edwards (1921-2017)
1972-1979
Donald Herbert “Don” Peto (1927-2007)
1979-1980
Garry Bruno Grubert (1942-2021)
1980-1981
Walter Keith “Wally” Stewart
School Year
Teachers
1964-1965
?
1965-1966
?
1966-1967
Mary Anne Browning (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Harvey Edgar Hedley (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Edward Krysko (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Nestor M. Podolsky (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Lily Sedun (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Harold Reginald Syrett (grade 9, Occupational Entrance), Gordon Blair Fenton (grade 9, Occupational Entrance; and Vice-Principal), John Gordon Tully (no grade)
1967-1968
Mrs. J. Anthony, Mrs. M. Browning, D. Buckingham, R. H. Czayka, R. W. Delgatty, R. James Duncan, Mrs. K. B. Finch, Mrs. J. Findlater, W. S. Gallinger, K. Gordon, Harvey Hedley, L. Herman, H. Hershberg, J. P. Hodnett, S. Kaban, Norine Isla Smith Kellet, Mrs. E. Komar, W. Kowalski, G. Kneller, Mrs. R. Krahn, E. Krysko, R. Lee, Fred A. Merrett, B. Novak, Donald Herbert Peto, E. Phillips, N. Podalsky, Mrs. L. Rose, F. J. Ross, Miss L. Sedun, A. Scheil, M. Stern, H. Taylor, G. Tully, Mrs. I. Wettlaufer, Z. Wolfe, S. Wujec, F. Zaboroski, W. Zborosky, J. Zubatiuk
1968-1969
Mrs. J. Anthony, Mrs. M. Browning, D. Buckingham, A. Compton, P. H. Czayka, R.W. Delgatty, A. D. L. Donker, R. James Duncan, Mrs. K. B. Finch, Mrs. J. Findlater, W. S. Gallinger, K. Gordon, Mrs. F. J. Grey, Harvey Hedley, L. Herman, H. Hershberg, J. P. Hodnett, S. Kaban, Norine Isla Smith Kellet, Mrs. E. Komar, W. Kowalski, G. Kneller, E. Krysko, R. L. Lee, Miss E. M. Lever, J. Ludwig, W. G. Mahon, Fred A. Merrett, B. Novak, Donald Herbert Peto, E. Phillips, N. Podalsky, Mrs. L. Rose, F. J. Ross, Mrs. D. Sankey, W. Schellenberg, A. Scheil, M. Stern, H. Taylor, G. Tully, Z. Wolfe, S. Wujec, F. Zaboroski, W. Zborosky, J. Zubatiuk
Other teachers of R. B. Russell High School were Gordon Claude Featherstone, Alfred Charles “Alf” Selver (?-1987), and Arnold Harvey Ross.
R. B. Russell Vocational High School (1969)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Government Photographs (CH 0276), GR3552, 69-0182
R. B. Russell Vocational High School (1969)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Government Photographs (CH 0276), GR3552, 69-0183
R. B. Russell Vocational High School (March 2020)
Source: Nathan Kramer
R. B. Russell Vocational High School (July 2020)
Source: Nathan Kramer
R. B. Russell Vocational High School (November 2023)
Source: Glen Toews
Entrance to R. B. Russell Vocational High School (November 2023)
Source: Glen Toews
Cornerstone of R. B. Russell Vocational High School (November 2023)
Source: Glen ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91092, W97.14221
denoted by symbol on the map above
“Principals, teachers for Winnipeg School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 August 1965, page 56.
“New Tec-Voc school to be named after labour leader,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 March 1966, page 48.
“Junior Voc scheme may be set up,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1966, page 14.
“Shorter lunch, earlier finish,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 August 1966, page 3.
“Principals, teachers for Winnipeg School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1966, page 29.
“Teacher: schools ignore creativity,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 March 1967, page 18.
“Vocational school booked,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 August 1967, page 37.
“Principals, teachers for Winnipeg School Division,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1967, page 11.
“Winnipeg teachers’ list announced,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1968, page 28.
“Only govt. okay needed for new school,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1969, page 4.
“Bend’s school job filled,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 May 1969, page 3.
“Choice of Principal divides trustees,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 June 1973, page 3.
“Stop lecturing, start teaching, Cramer says,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 1977, page 3.
“School chiefs named,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 July 1979, page 18.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
“Teacher deserves golden apple,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 May 1993, page 66.
“Principal takes risks to achieve her goals,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 July 1994, page B4.
“Kids express themselves in clothing and teachers sometimes rebel,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 October 1997, page 42.
“FASD kids to get added help,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 May 2010, page B3.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
Winnipeg School Division: Celebrating One Hundred Fifty Years, 1871-2021 by Winnipeg School Division, 2021.
We thank Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 13 February 2025
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