Historic Sites of Manitoba: Szewczenko School / Shevchenko School No. 1388 (Vita, RM of Stuartburn)

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

Known as the Szewczenko School District when it was first formed in July 1906, probably named for Ukrainian patriot Taras Shevchenko, a two-classroom school building was situated in the village of Vita in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn. In July 1955 it was given the Anglicized version of the same name, Shevchenko School. The district was dissolved in 1967 and its catchment area became part of the Boundary School Division.

In early 1970, the Shevchenko Collegiate building consisted of fifteen huts that had previously been one-room schoolhouses in the region. A new building was constructed that year by the Benjamin Construction Company.

Principals (Shevchenko School)

Period	Principal
1920	D. Yakimischak
1920	Nettie Richliski
1920-1921	Henry Benjamin Bees (c1886-1968)
1921	Dell T. Belyea
1922	G. A. Gryte
1923-1926	William Jerowsky (1888-1967)
1926	Harry Blair
1927-1928	Eldon Franklin Simms (1907-1964)
1928-1930	Albert C. Rust
1930-1931	Peter Michael “Mike” Onysko (1906-1993)
1931-1932	William M. Wolochatiuk
1932-1934	John M. Podolsky
1934-1935	Phyllis M. Archibald
1935-1938	Russell Pastuck
1938-1939	Patty Zarosinsky
1939-1940	Peter Mike Onysko
1940-1941	Adam William Muzychuk
1941-1945	Dmytro W. “Dan” Hnatiuk (1912-2005)
1945-1948	John William Boychuk
1948-1949	John M. Podolsky
1949-1957	Peter Jacob Olchowecki (1911-2011)
1957-1958	William Kolisnyk
1958-1960	Peter Jacob Olchowecki (1911-2011)
1960-1961	Taras W. Uzwyshyn
1961-1966	Herve Laurent Caron
1966-1967	Jake D. Hildebrandt

Principals (Vita Collegiate)

Period	Principal
1966-1969	Herve Laurent Caron
1969-1972	Ben V. Kroeker
1972-1973	R. Cesmystruk

Vice-Principals (Vita Collegiate)

Period	Principal
1969-1970	Robert E. Cesmystruk

Teachers (Shevchenko School)

Period	Teachers
1919-1920	William Jerowsky (grades 1-9, 1919), P. Mitenko (grades 1 & 3, 1920), J. Nazeravich (grades 1 & 3, 1920), Rev. P. Sametz (grades 1-2, 1920), D. Yakimischak (grades 2 & 4-9, 1920; grades 1-9, 1920)
1920-1921	Henry Benjamin Bees (grades 3-9), Anna “Annie” Holisnyk (grades 1-2, 1920), Mrs I. McMaster (grades 1-2, 1921), Nettie Richliski (grades 3-9, 1920), Mrs. M. Sharman (grades 1-2, 1921), D. Yakimischak (grades 3-9, 1920)
1921-1922	Dell T. Belyea (grades 3-9, 1921), Mrs. H. Campbell (grades 1-2, 1921), G. A. Gryte (grades 3-9, 1922), Jessie B. Kennedy (grades 1-2, 1922), Margaret Young (grades 1-3, 1922)
1922-1923	G. A. Gryte (grades 4-9, 1922), William Jerowsky (grades 4-9, 1923), Laura Johnson (grades 1-3, 1922), Marie Wachna (grades 1-3, 1923)
1923-1924	Mary M. Hall (grades 1-3), William Jerowsky (grades 4-9)
1924-1925	Mary M. Hall (grades 1-3), William Jerowsky (grades 3-9)
1925-1926	M. Demchuk (grades 1-3), William Jerowsky (grades 3-8)
1926-1927	Harry Blair (grades 4-8, 1926), Hazel Ellen Nelson (grades 1-3), Eldon Franklin Simms (grades 4-8, 1927)
1927-1928	Hazel Ellen Nelson (grades 1-3), Eldon Franklin Simms (grades 4-8)
1928-1929	Laurine Hox (grades 1-3, 1929), William Kolisnyk (grades 1-3), Albert C. Rust (grades 4-8)
1929-1930	Olga Burianyk (grades 1-3, 1929, 1930), William Kolisnyk (grades 3-6), Nicholas J. Mandquill (grades 1-3, 1930), Albert C. Rust (grades 7-11)
1930-1931	Nicholas J. Mandquill (grades 3-6), Mary Helen Onysko (grades 1-2), Peter Mike Onysko (grades 7-10)
1931-1932	Helen Elsie Kulachkowsky (grades 1-3), Ivan M. Storozuk (grades 3-6), William M. Wolochatiuk (grades 7-11)
1932-1933	Mary Eve Kulachkowsky (grades 1-3), John M. Podolsky (grades 7-11), Fred Anthony Rekrut (grades 4-6)
1933-1934	Mary Eve Kulachkowsky (grades 1-3), John M. Podolsky (grades 7-11), Fred Anthony Rekrut (grades 4-6)
1934-1935	Phyllis M. Archibald (grades 7-11), Mary Eve Kulachkowsky (grades 1-2), John M. Podolsky (grades 7-11, 1934), Fred Anthony Rekrut (grades 4-6)
1935-1936	Mary Eve Kulachkowsky (grades 1-3), Helen Mysyk (grades 4-6), Russell Pastuck (grades 7-11)
1936-1937	William Kolisnyk (grades 4-6), Mary Eve Kulachkowsky (grades 1-3, 1936), Helen Mysyk (grades 4-6, 1936; grades 1-3), Russell Pastuck (grades 7-11)
1937-1938	Helen Mysyk (grades 1-3), Russell Pastuck (grades 7-11), John M. Podolsky (grades 4-6)
1938-1939	Nicholas Kosowan (grades 1-3, 1939), Helen Mysyk (grades 1-3), John M. Podolsky (grades 4-6), Patty Zarosinsky (grades 7-10)
1939-1940	Mary Helen Onysko (grades 1-3), Patty Zarosinsky (grades 4-6), Peter Michael “Mike” Onysko (grades 7-11)
1940-1941	Mary Karpetz (grades 1-4), Andam William Muzychuk (grades 7-11), Patty Zarosinsky (grades 5-6)
1941-1942	Florence A. Foster (grades 1-4, 1942), Dmytro W. “Dan” Hnatiuk (grades 9-11), Lydia MacDonald (grades 1-4, 1942), Olha Mayowsky (grades 1-4, 1941), Patty Zarosinsky (grades 5-8)
1942-1943	Walter C. Bilych (grades 4-8), Stefania Grace Eyford (grades 1-3), Dmytro W. “Dan” Hnatiuk (grades 9-11)
1943-1944	Walter C. Bilych (grades 5-8), Stefania Grace Eyford (grades 1-4), Dmytro W. “Dan” Hnatiuk (grades 9-11)
1944-1945	Stefania Grace Eyford (grades 5-8), Dmytro W. “Dan” Hnatiuk (grades 9-11), Helen Mysyk (grades 1-4)
1945-1946	John William Boychuk (grades 9-11), Helen Mysyk (grades 1-4), Maurice Probzanski (grades 5-8)
1946-1947	John William Boychuk (grades 9-11), John M. Podolsky (grades 3-5), Maurice Probzanski (grades 6-8), Olga Probzanski (grades 1-2)
1947-1948	John William Boychuk (grades 9-11), Olga Dmytriw (grades 1-2), John M. Podolsky (grades 6-8), Doris Slusar (grades 3-5)
1948-1949	John William Boychuk (grades 9-11), Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), John M. Podolsky (grades 9-11), Doris Slusar (grades 3-5)
1949-1950	Irene Beaudoin (grades 9-10), Lena Tillie Kuzyk (grades 1-2), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grade 11), Doris Slusar (grades 3-5, 1949; grades 3-4, 1950), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 5-8, 1950), Paul Yurkowsky (grades 6-8, 1949)
1950-1951	Verna Claire Edie (grade 9), Doris Fostey (grades 1-4), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grades 10-11), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 5-8)
1951-1952	Gladys Dickson (grades 1-2), Peter Huebner [Huchner?] (grades 9-10), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grades 11-12), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 5-8), Theresa Tkachyk (grades 3-5)
1952-1953	Pollyanne Victoria Moen (grades 1-2), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grades 11-12), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 6-8), Malcolm Herbert Stanbridge (grades 9-10), Theresa Tkachyk (grades 3-5)
1953-1954	Ken E. Calmain (grade 9, 1953), Alfred Ewaschyshyn (grade 9, 1954), William Kolisnyk (grades 3-5), Pollyanne Victoria Moen (grades 1-2), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grades 11-12), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 6-8), Malcolm Herbert Stanbridge (grade 10)
1954-1955	Peter Abram Dyck (grade 10), William Kolisnyk (grades 3-5), James Stanley Moran (grade 9), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grade 12), Helen Podolsky (grades 1-2), Edmond Cyril Joseph Roy (grade 11), Harry Steve Stadnyk (grades 6-8)
1955-1956	Elsie Mary Bodnarchuk (grades 3-5), Anne Mary Dykan (grades 6-8), Francis Grey (grade 10), Jake D. Hiebert (grade 11, 1956), William Kolisnyk (grade 9), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grade 12, 1955; grades 11-12, 1956), Helen Podolsky (grades 1-2)
1956-1957	Anne Mary Dykan (grades 6-8), Margaret Jean Fraser (grades 9-10), William Kolisnyk (grade 11), Louie J. Mysyk (grades 1-2), Joan Eleanor Negrych (grades 3-5), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grade 12)
1957-1958	Anne Mary Dykan (grades 6-8), William Kolisnyk (grades 11-12), Mr. M. Koroscil (grades 9-10, 1957; grade 10, 1958), R. Land (grade 9, 1958), Louie J. Mysyk (grades 1-2), Joan Eleanor Negrych (grades 3-5)
1958-1959	Herve Laurent Caron (grade 11), Anne Mary Dykan (grades 5-8), William Kolisnyk (grades 9-10), Mary Ellen Korchak (grades 1-4), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grade 12)
1959-1960	Herve Laurent Caron (grade 10), Anne Mary Dykan (grades 7-8), William Kolisnyk (grade 9), Mary Ellen Korchak (grades 1-3), Peter Jacob Olchowecki (grades 11-12), Helen Podolsky (grades 4-6)
1960-1961	Herve Laurent Caron (grade 10), Mary Ellen Korchak Caron (grades 1-2), Anne Mary Dykan (grades 6-8), George Nicholos Heshka (grade 11), Clark Hunter (grades 3-5), William Kolisnyk (grade 9), Taras J. [W.?] Uzwyshyn (grade 12)
1961-1962	Herve Laurent Caron (grade 12), Mary Ellen Korchak Caron (grades 1-4), Eric William Gatehouse (grade 9, 1962), George Nicholos Heshka (grade 11), Richard Holland (grades 5-8), William Kolisnyk (grade 10), Thomas Frank Tyler (grade 9, 1961)
1962-1963	Nick Andrusiak (grade 11), Herve Laurent Caron (grades 11-12), Morris Cesmystruk (grade 9), Frank John Gustaw (grade 10), Olivia Ann Kolodzinski (grades 6-8), Arlene Donna Podolsky (grades 1-2), Helen Podolsky (grades 3-5)
1963-1964	Herve Laurent Caron (grades 11-12), Morris Cesmystruk (grade 9), Olivia Ann Kolodzinski Chomiczuk (grades 5-8), Frank John Gustaw (grade 10), Arlene Donna Podolsky (grades 1-4)
1964-1965	John Ayoub Ali (grades 9-10, 1965), Herve Laurent Caron (grades 11-12), Morris Cesmystruk (grade 11), Jake D. Hildebrandt (grades 5-8), Michael John Kosjar (grades 9-10, 1964), Arlene Donna Podolsky (grades 1-4)
1965-1966	Arcade Guy Bourgeois (grade 9), Herve Laurent Caron (grades 11-12), Jake D. Hildebrandt (grades 5-8), Carole June Laurie (grades 1-4), Rose Smook (grades 10-11)
1966-1967	Nadia Sonia Dru (grades 3-5), Jake D. Hildebrandt (grades 6-8), Shirley Elizabeth Proceviat (grades 1-2)

Teachers (Vita Collegiate)

Period	Principal
1966-1967	Robert Ernest Cesmystruk (grade 12), Monica Joyce Lindsay (grade 11), Bertha Catherine Limoges (grade 10), William “Bill” Shydlowsky (grade 9), Roman Dmytro Smook (grade 9), Rose Smook (grade 10), Harry Trueman (grade 11, 1966), Myron Yakimischak (grade 11)
1967-1968	?
1968-1969	?
1969-1970	Michael Andrusiak (French, Ukrainian), Morris Cesmystruk (physical education, math), Robert Ernest Cesmystruk (math, physics), Bernice Gruenke (home economics), George Gushuliak (guidance), Havelock Jordine (music), Norman King (economics, history), Glenn Klassen (math, science), Ben V. Kroeker (English), Lew Kurdydyk (business, Ukrainian), Joan Pestawka (librarian), Alex Schneider (physical education, science), Jack Segal (bookkeeping, business, English), William “Bill” Shydlowsky (social studies), William Siwak (typing, bookkeeping), Roman Dmytro Smook (industrial arts, math, science)

Among the other teachers of Szewczenko School / Shevchenko School were Joseph Kulaczkoski (1908), Michael Drabiniasty (1909), George Maczula (1909, 1910-1911), Theo Sanky (1910), M. Mihaychuk (1911-1912), Paul Semotiuk (1912-1914), W. J. Mihaychuk (1914-1915), Joseph Kulaykowski (1916), Manuel Mihaychuk (1916), William Jerowsky (1916-1919), and Peter M. Onysko.

Photos & Coordinates

The two-classroom Szewczenko School (no date) by H. D. Cumming Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 109. Szewczenko School, third room (no date) by H. D. Cumming Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs, GR8461, A0233, C131-2, page 109. The present-day Shevchenko School at N49.13000, W96.56441 (May 2020) Source: Rose Kuzina Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.13604, W96.56383 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Bukovina School / Lord Roberts School No. 1218 (RM of Stuartburn)

Sources:

Manitoba School Records Collection, Shevchenko School District No. 1388 Daily Registers, GR4095, Archives of Manitoba.

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

“Introducing the teaching staff of Shevchenko Collegiate, Vita,” Steinbach Carillon News, 15 January 1970, page 22.

One Hundred Years in the History of the Rural Schools of Manitoba: Their Formation, Reorganization and Dissolution (1871-1971) by Mary B. Perfect, MEd thesis, University of Manitoba, April 1978.

Obituary [Daniel W. Hnatiuk], Dauphin Herald, 15 March 2005, page B5.

Manitoba School Records Collection, Szewczenko School District No. 1388 - Daily Registers, GR2088, Archives of Manitoba.

School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.

We thank Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 14 May 2023

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