Historic Sites of Manitoba: R. B. Russell Vocational High School (364 Dufferin Avenue, Winnipeg)

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.

Principals

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 Grubert (1942-2021)
1986-1989	Maxine Zimmerman
1989-1991	Brian O'Leary
1991-2002	Walter K. “Wally” Stewart
2002-2008	Gary John Comack (?-2013)
2008-2017	Beverly “Bev” Wahl
2017-2019	Jackie Connell
2019-?	Paul Krowiak

Vice-Principals

Period	Principal
1964-1966	?
1966-1969	Gordon Blair Fenton (1921-2006)
1969-1972	?
1972-1973	Henry Trevor “Harry” Edwards (1921-2017)
1973-?	Donald Peto

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1966-1967	Mrs. M. Browning, Harvey Hedley, E. Krysko, N. Podolsky, Miss L. Sedun, H. Syrett, G. Tully
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, D. 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, D. 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 included Gordon Claude Featherstone and Alfred Charles “Alf” Selver (?-1987).

Photos & Coordinates

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91092, W97.14221 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“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.

“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.

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

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 27 May 2023

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