Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Collegiate Institute / New Era School (527 Louise Avenue, Brandon)

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

The present two-storey school building in Brandon was designed by architect W. A. Elliott, and constructed between 1906 and 1907. An official opening ceremony on 1 September 1908 was attended by Minister of Education G. R. Coldwell, Mayor S. E. Clement, and Collegiate Inspector Alexander McIntyre. The building was expanded in 1963 and, eleven years later, it converted from a high school to an elementary school, receiving the students from the former New Central School, and was renamed New Era School.

Principals

Period	Principal
1883-1885	Edwin Samuel Popham (1856-1930)
1885-1898	Alexander McIntyre (1861-1928)
1898-1900	?
1900-1910	William Newton Finlay (c1869-?)
1910-1922	Duncan McDougall (1870-1947)
1922-1923	J. A. Brown BA
1923-1927	J. Harwood Duncan
1927-1949	James Robert Reid (1882-1966)
1949-1960	Herbert Vincent Bell (1898-1971)
1960-1966	William Gordon Frazer (1913-1998)
1966-1970	Donald Wilford Cullen (1932-1983)
1971-1973	Morris Bohonos

Vice-Principals

Period	Vice-Principal
1965-1966	Morley Fraser Sparrow (1916-1979)
1966-?	?
?-2017	Lena Boisjoli

Teachers (partial lists)

School Year	Teachers
1895-1896	George Young, ?
1896-1897	?
1897-1898	?
1898-1899	John P. Wadge (Science), ?
1899-1900	?
1900-1901	R. T. Hodgson
1901-1902	W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), R. T. Hodgson (Science), Miss Murray (Modern and English), Mr. Young (Classics and History)
1902-1903	W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), R. T. Hodgson (Science), Miss J. Lee (Music), Miss I. C. McGregor (English and Moderns), Miss I. Sinclair (Drawing), G. Young (Classics and History)
1903-1904	?
1904-1905	W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), R. T. Hodgson (Science), Mr. D. McDougall BA (Classics and History), Miss McGregor, (English and Moderns), Miss Sinclair (Drawing), Mr. A. Whyte (Music), Mr. Irwin (Drill)
1905-1906	W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), R. T. Hodgson (Science), Miss S. Macmorine BA (Moderns and English), Mr. D. McDougall BA (Classics and History), Miss M. E. Sibbald BA (Composition, Geography, etc.)
1906-1907	Miss S. Macmorine BA (Moderns and English), Mr. D. McDougall BA (Classics and History), Miss M. E. Sibbald BA (Composition, Geography, etc.)
1907-1908	Mr. W. B. Beer BA, W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), R. T. Hodgson MA (Science), Mr. D. McDougal BA (Classics), Miss M. McMorine BA (Modern Languages)
1908-1909	?
1909-1910	Mr. W. B. Beer (Geography and Composition), W. N. Finlay (Mathematics), Mr. E. Knapp (Science), Miss S. Macmorine BA (Modern and English), Mr. D. McDougall BA (Classics and History), Joseph McLaren (Physical Director), Miss I. Sinclair (Drawing), Miss M. Vail (Commercial)
1910-1911	Mr. W. B. Beer, G. H. Hogarth, E. Knapp, Miss S. Macmorine, Joseph McLaren (Drill-master), Miss J. E. Reburn, Miss M. St. C. Vail
1911-1912	Mr. W. B. Beer (English), G. H. Hogarth (Mathematics), W. H. King (Political Science), E. Knapp (Science), Miss S. Macmorine (Moderns), D. McDougall (Classics), A. M. Simpson (Mathematics), Miss M. St. C. Vail (Commercial)
1912-1913	?
1913-1914	?
1914-1915	John S. Hollies, ?
1915-1916	?
1916-1917	John Boyd, ?
1917-1918	?
1918-1919	John Boyd, ?
1919-1920	John Boyd, ?
1920-1921	John Boyd, ?
1921-1922	John Boyd, ?
1922-1923	?
1923-1924	?
1924-1925	?
1925-1926	?
1926-1927	?
1927-1928	?
1928-1929	?
1929-1930	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1930-1931	Herbert V. Bell, Harvey R. Brown, Winnifred Bruce, Jean Doig, Elsie M. Duval, E. S. Fallis, Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Thomas Kirkpatrick
1931-1932	Herbert V. Bell, Harvey R. Brown, Winnifred H. Bruce, Beatrice Clendenning, Hazel Dunseith, Elsie M. Duval, E. S. Fallis, Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Thomas Kirkpatrick
1932-1933	Herbert V. Bell, Harvey R. Brown, Winifred H. Bruce, Beatrice Clendenning, Jean Doig, Hazel Dunseith, Elsie M. Duval, E. S. Fallis, Edith V. Insley, Martin Kavanagh, T. Kirkpatrick
1933-1934	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1934-1935	Herbert V. Bell, Miss Winifred H. Bruce, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, Miss Elsie M. Duval, E. S. Fallis, J. Hoogstraten, Miss Edith V. Insley, Martin Kavanagh, T. Kirkpatrick, Miss Marguerite McDole
1935-1936	Herbert V. Bell, Miss Beatrice Clendenning, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, Miss Elsie M. Duval, E. S. Fallis, Jack Hoogstraten, Miss Edith V. Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Miss Margaret McDole
1936-1937	Herbert V. Bell, Beatrice Clendenning, Jean Doig, Elsie M. Duval, Edith V. Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Marguerite McDole, Janet P. McLauchlan (exchange teacher), Theodore Sigurdson, R. Harold Stinson, E. Anna Wood (industrial arts)
1937-1938	B. Scott Bateman, Herbert V. Bell, Miss B. E. Clendenning, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, Miss Elsie Duval, George Harris, Miss Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Miss M. McDole, Theodore Sigurdson, Miss Anna Wood
1938-1939	J. A. Ashley, B. Scott Bateman, Herbert V. Bell, Samuel H. Doctoroff, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, George Harris, Miss E. Insley, Martin Kavanagh, T. Kirkpatrick, Miss M. McDole, Miss E. Strachan, Miss Anna Wood
1939-1940	J. A. Ashley, Herbert V. Bell, Samuel H. Doctoroff, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, A. A. Harris, George Harris (industrial arts), Miss Edith Insley, Ed Johnston, Martin Kavanagh, Miss Marguerite McDole, Miss Evelyn Strachan, Miss Ann Wood (industrial arts)
1940-1941	J. A. Ashley, Herbert V. Bell, Perry Bell (industrial arts), Samuel H. Doctoroff, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, A. A. Harris, Miss Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Miss Marguerite McDole, Miss Evelyn Strachan, Miss Ann Wood (industrial arts)
1941-1942	G. A. Coleman, Samuel H. Doctoroff, Jean Doig, Hazel Dunseith, Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Marguerite McDole, K. McKillop, George Robertson, Evelyn Strachan, Ann Wood
1942-1943	Mrs. M. B. Cannon, Charles Coleman, Miss Jean Doig, Miss Hazel Dunseith, Miss Marjorie Fitton, Gordon Frazer, Miss Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, K. F. A. Kearney, Miss Marguerite McDole, K. A. McKillop, A. Venables, Miss E. Ann Wood
1943-1944	Mary B. Cannon, Jean Doig, Hazel Dunseith, Marjorie Fitton, W. G. Frazer, Edith Insley, Martin Kavanagh, Marguerite McDole, F. A. McKillop, A. L. McVety, Isabel Stewart, A. Venables, Ann Wood
1944-1945	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1945-1946	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1946-1947	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1947-1948	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1948-1949	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1949-1950	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1950-1951	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1951-1952	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1952-1953	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1953-1954	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1954-1955	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1955-1956	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1956-1957	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1957-1958	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1958-1959	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1959-1960	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1960-1961	?, Martin Kavanagh, ?
1961-1962	Miss M. Bowen, Martin Chalaturnyk, Mrs. H. Coates (grade 9), Mr. D. W. Cullen, Henry A. Funk, Mr. J. A. Henderson, Archibald G. Hickling, Lloyd C. Jackson, Martin Kavanagh, Ronald C. Kirbyson (grade 11), Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson (grade 12), Mr. H. L. Stewart, Nicholas Yarish
1962-1963	Mrs. G. L. Ames, Martin Chalaturnyk, Mr. D. W. Cullen, Mrs. W. G. Frazer, Henry A. Funk, Mr. J. A. Henderson, Archibald G. Hickling, Martin Kavanagh, Ronald C. Kirbyson (grade 11), Lloyd C. Jackson, Miss E. A. Lane (grade 10), Mrs. M. P. McPhail, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson (grade 12), Mr. H. L. Stewart, Nicholas Yarish
1963-1964	George W. Botchett, Jacob Dyck, J. Tom Forrest (carpentry), Miss D. Fraser, Mrs. W. G. Frazer, Henry A. Funk, Mr. J. A. Henderson, Archibald G. Hickling, Lloyd C. Jackson, Ronald C. Kirbyson (grade 11), Miss E. A. Lane (grade 10), Miss K. P. Manns (home economics), Richard Nielsen, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Mr. J. Russell, Mr. M. F. Sparrow, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson (grade 12), Mr. H. L. Stewart, Robert M. Swayze, Nicholas Yarish
1964-1965	George W. Botchett, Jacob Dyck, J. Tom Forrest, T. Leslie Fox (carpentry), Mrs. W. G. Frazer, Henry A. Funk, Miss S. A. Hamilton, Mr. J. A. Henderson, Archibald G. Hickling, Mrs. Helen Horobin, Lloyd C. Jackson, Mr. L. W. Jones, Miss K. P. Manns (home economics), Mr. R. F. McNabb, Mrs. M. P. McPhail, Richard Nielsen, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Mr. B. E. Reilly, Mr. J. F. Russell, Mr. M. F. Sparrow, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson (grade 12), Mr. H. L. Stewart, Robert M. Swayze, Nicholas Yarish
1965-1966	Katherine Addison, George W. Botchett, Jacob Dyck, J. Tom Forrest, T. Leslie Fox, Henry A. Funk, Miss Gladys Hamilton, Gordon Henderson, Archibald G. Hickling, Mrs. Helen Horobin, Lloyd C. Jackson, Felix Koensgen, Raymond McNabb, Miss Margaret Milne, Richard Nielsen, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Brian Roberts, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson, Robert M. Swayze, Gethin Thomas, Nicholas Yarish
1966-1967	?
1967-1968	?
1968-1969	Mr. B. W. Bachewich, Jean Bates, Lucienne Bazin, John Bucklaschuk, Cathy Craig, Ruth E. Davies, Judy Einarson, Cyril P. Fox, Warda Fraser, Henry A. Funk, John Garner, Gladys Hamilton, Colleen Hay, Helen Horobin, Mrs. Doris Hunt, R. L. Hurd, Felix Koensgen, Mr. R. Loucks, Richard Nielsen, Glen Olmstead, Chris Pearce, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Clifford Ramcharan, Frank Rodgers, Morley F. Sparrow, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson, Indira Wesley
1969-1970	Mr. D. W. Bachewich, Jean Bates, Miss E. Coombs, Cathy Craig, Mrs. Ruth E. Davies, Mr. M. R. Derksen, Cyril P. Fox, Mrs. M. Franklin, Warda Fraser, Henry A. Funk, Mr. C. Gonzales, Gladys Hamilton, Mrs. M. Hindley, Mrs. Doris Hunt, Mrs. H. A. James, Felix Koensgen, Mr. R. A. R. McClean, Miss M. Morison, Richard Nielsen, Marion E. Pye, Ivan T. Rainey, Clifford Ramcharan, Frank Rodgers, Mr. N. Smith, Morley F. Sparrow (Vice-Principal), Mrs. C. Stelling, Miss Winnifred E. Stevenson, Mrs. R. Sutherland, Mr. R. Willems
1970-1971	Partial list: Mrs. Ruth E. Davies, Mrs. Fraser, Henry A. Funk, Mrs. Doris Hunt, Clifford Ramcharan, Frank Rodgers, Mrs. R. Sutherland, Mr. R. Willems

Among the other teachers of the Brandon Collegiate were Martin D. Chalaturnyk, Robert J. Coates, and Lena Boisjoli (1985-2017).

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of Brandon Collegiate (circa 1910) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0090 Postcard view of Brandon Collegiate (circa 1910) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2012-0174 A view of Brandon Collegiate (no date). Source: Magnacca Research Centre, Daly House Museum, 86-113-4.   New Era School, formerly Brandon Collegiate Institute (October 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Brandon Collegiate commemorative monument (October 2012) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84403, W99.94535 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

“School Board,” Brandon Daily Sun, 7 March 1900, page 1.

“Empire Day,” Brandon Daily Sun, 25 May 1900, page 4.

“Principal Finlay talks to teachers,” Brandon Daily Sun, 11 October 1900, page 1.

“1,000 children now on the rolls,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 September 1901, page 1.

“School notes,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1902, page 1.

“Big increase in attendance,” Brandon Daily Sun, 9 September 1903, page 1.

“Teaching staff of schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 7 September 1905, page 6.

“Collegiate opening,” Brandon Daily Sun, 26 August 1908, page 1.

“New Collegiate will be opened tomorrow,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1908, page 1.

“Auspicious opening of Collegiate,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 September 1908, page 1 & 2.

“Collegiate’s fine building,” Brandon Daily Sun, 25 September 1906, page 1.

“Schools will open Tuesday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1907, page 1.

“Teachers for city schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1908, page 1.

“Public schools were re-opened this morning,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1909, page 1.

“Many changes on the teaching staff,” Brandon Daily Sun, 11 August 1910, page 1.

“The city schools will re-open Friday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1911, page 1.

“Have full staff of teachers for public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1923, page 1.

“Reid named as new Principal of collegiate,” Brandon Daily Sun, 12 July 1927, page 1.

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

“List of teachers public school,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1930.

“All schools to open Monday for fall term here,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1931.

“One addition only to city schools staff,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1932.

“Some changes on teaching staff of public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1934.

“Schools to open Tuesday for fall term in city,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1935.

“Few changes in teaching staff as all schools in city open Monday morning,” Brandon Daily Sun, 29 August 1936.

“Five new teachers on staff of Brandon schools for fall term commencing next week,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1937.

“Teaching staff public school,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1938.

“Schools staff public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 September 1939.

“Seven changes on teaching staff of the public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 September 1940.

“Important changes made in teaching staff for opening schools here Tuesday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 August 1941.

“Elementary and junior high schools open tomorrow for fall term after long holidays,” Brandon Daily Sun, 26 August 1942.

“Eleven new teachers on staff as schools prepare to open for fall term commencing Monday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1943.

“Brandon Collegiate,” Manitoba Calling, June 1944, page 16.

“22 new faces for city,” Brandon Sun, 20 August 1965, page 22.

A Study of Public School Buildings in Manitoba by David Butterfield, Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, 1994, 230 pages.

We thank Greg Sigurdson, Catherine Harley, Nathan Kramer, Wilma MacMillan, Jacob Foerster, and James Kostuchuk for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 31 July 2020

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