Events in Manitoba History: Manitoba’s Rural School Consolidation (1905-1967)

The first consolidation of schools in rural Manitoba took place in 1905, at Virden and Holland. Subsequently, the number of consolidations occurring annually increased, as shown by statistics compiled by the Manitoba Department of Education [2].

Year	Schools Districts [3]
1905	Holland, Virden
...
1909	Brickburn (Gilbert Plains), Brigdenley, Dauphin, Elphinstone, Melita, Starbuck, Teulon
1910	Darlingford, Kelwood, St. Andrews, St. Patrick, Snowflake, Sperling, Warren
1911	Birtle, Goose Lake, Justice, Langruth, Moore Park, Rivers, Roseisle, Solsgirth, Waukeemo
1912	Decker, Elgin, Hamiota, Hazelridge, Lyleton, Manitou, McConnell, Shellmouth, Whitemouth
1913	Benito, Bield, Brant, Dominion City, Durban, Fairfax, Flora, Lundar, Makaroff, Merridale, Miniota, Oak Bluff, Palestine, Sanford, Strathclair, Tummel, Valley
1914	Alpine, Balmoral, Carroll, Kenton, Lenore, Rosenort, Stockton
1915	Bradwardine, Brookdale, Cameron, Cardale, Gunton, Ross, Rutherglen
1916	Eden, Foxwarren, Wellwood
1917	Belmont, Berton, Manson, Miami, Newdale, Oak River, Plumas, St. James
1918	Crandall, Elm Creek, Graysville, Oakner, Woodnorth
1919	Arden, Bethany, Dand, Deleau, Ebor, Glenholm, Grosse Isle, Harding, Kane, Myrtle, Rothesay, Wingham, Woodlands
1920	Brunkild, Lauder, Lavinia, McConnell, Mountainside, Pipestone, Stephenfield
1921	Clarkleigh, Deloraine, Roseneath
...
1935	Point Douglas
...
1950	East St. Paul
1951	Binscarth, Charleswood
1952	Clearwater-Cypress
1953	Domain
1954	Margaret, Raven Lake, Roland
1955	Carman, Headingley
1956	Rathwell, Shoal Lake
1957	Dunrea, Fannystelle
1958	Broomhill, Crystal City, Cypress River, Kronsthal, Ridgeville, Rossburn, St. Jean Baptiste, St. Norbert, Waskada
1959	Altamont, Emerson, Glenboro, Holmfield, Kelsey, Lowe Farm, Mariapolis, McCreary, Medora, Napinka, Oakburn, Richard, Sandy Lake, Seven Oaks, St. Alphonse, Ste. Anne, St. Hyacinthe, St. Joachim, St. Lazare, St. Leon Village, Ste. Marie, Swan Lake, Treherne
1960	Baldur, Elie, Glenora, Happy Thought, Hartney, Inverness, Laurier, Lena, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Rosebank, St. Claude, Ste. Agathe, St. Francois Xavier, Ste. Rose du Lac, Souris
1961	Dandurand, Niverville, Rapid City, Ste. Elizabeth, St. Pierre, St. Vincent de Paul, Thornhill, Wawanesa
1962	Carberry, Cloverfield, Erickson, Fork River, Lac du Bonnet, LaRiviere, Macdonald, Minto, Nesbitt, Onanole, Otterburne, St. George
1963	Clandeboye, Dale Prospect, High Bluff, Morris, Ochre River, St. Eustache, St. Malo, Spruce Hills
1964	Arnaud, Buttrum, Dugald, Elkhorn, Ethelbert, Frontenac, Halbstadt, Makinak, Oak Bank, Pilot Mound, Reston, Rossendale
1965	Anola, Austin, Goodlands, Halton, Iles des Chenes, MacGregor, Morden, New Hope, Rosenfeld, Sprague
1966	Arborg, Brokenhead, Garson-Tyndall, Lorette, Pine River, Riverton, Sinclair
1967	Altona, Gladstone, Grandview, Gretna, Inglis, Oak Lake, Plum Coulee, Prairie Central, Russell

A Union School District was defined as one comprised of consolidated schools from two or more adjoining rural municipalities, or a rural municipality and an adjoining village or town.

By the end of December 1917, there were 74 consolidated school districts in Manitoba. The movement continued through the years, reaching its peak during the 1960s when the majority of one-room rural schools were closed and their students were bussed to larger, better-equipped schools in nearby towns.

See also:

Manitoba’s Rural School Designs

History in Manitoba Schools and Universities

Memorable Manitobans: School Inspectors of Manitoba

Events in Manitoba History: School Divisions Boundaries Commission (1958-1959)

Events in Manitoba History: School Divisions (1959)

Sources:

1. Consolidation of Rural Schools in Manitoba: Special Report of the Department of Education for the Year 1912, Manitoba Legislative Library, Manitoba SpR 1912 Rural Schools.

2. Consolidation of Rural Schools in Manitoba: Special Report of the Department of Education for the Year Ending June 30, 1917, Manitoba Legislative Library, Manitoba SpR 1917 Rural Schools.

3. “Consolidated school movement has made progress in Manitoba”,Manitoba Free Press, 25 June 1912, page 22.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 August 2020