Historic Sites of Manitoba: Isbister School / Adult Education Centre (310 Vaughan Street, Winnipeg)

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

The oldest public school in Winnipeg and the last old downtown school sits rather anonymously on Vaughan Street, just north of The Bay. The land Isbister School stands on once belonged to the Hudson’s Bay Land Reserve. The School Board purchased a block of lots at $100 each from the Hudson’s Bay Company and in the summer of 1898, the contract for this ten-room, three-storey building was let to builder D. D. Wood. Architect Samuel Hooper supplied the plans. The cornerstone was laid with a silver trowel by School Board Building Committee Chairman Angus Browne at a grand ceremony on 26 September 1898. On Isbister School, Hooper employed Queen Anne style architecture, an eclectic style used mainly for residential buildings in Winnipeg. This makes any public building using the style particularly special.

After decades of service, Isbister School suffered the fate of other downtown schools suddenly in the middle of business districts rather than residential neighbourhoods. Dwindling enrolments caused the school’s closure in 1964 and it seemed likely the old place would be demolished. It received a reprieve, becoming the Adult Education Centre in September 1967. It even survived the 2004 onset of an incongruent steel, concrete and glass addition on the north and west sides. Luckily, the façade retains its 1898 face, glorious even with pollution-darkened brick. The school bears the name of Alexander Kennedy Isbister, the son of Orkneyman Thomas Isbister and Cree Mary Kennedy, who was born in 1822. Isbister studied at universities in Scotland and England becoming a teacher and writer, completing 21 textbooks.

Among the noteworthy alumni of Isbister School, you will discover Rhodes Scholar Skuli Johnson, local printer Gordon Stovel, and singer/comedian Pat Riordan.

Located at the southwest corner of the school building, a plaque from the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba gives a history of Isbister School. In 2001, a restoration of the building’s roof was recognized with a Heritage Winnipeg Conservation Award. The building is a municipally-designated historic site.

Principals

Period	Principal
1898-1902	Rebecca Walker Rodgers (1858-1939)
1902-1903	Charles Walter Laidlaw (1873-1953)
1903-1916	Ernest James Motley (1868-1940)
1916-1938	Estelle Maud Hamilton (1875-1946)
1938-1945	Nellie Harriet George (1892-1986)
1945-1952	George Harvey Warren (1904-1967)
1952-1953	Inez Lillian Falardeau McCallum (1898-1979)
1953-1955	Robert McIlroy Cross (1903-1984)
1955-1957	Ross Laverne Donald (1907-1992)
1957-1960	Gerald Leopold Kramer (1908-1977)
1960-1964	Ernest William Nemish (1913-2002)
1964-1966	Closed
1966-1968	Harold Pollock (1928-2008)
1968-1974	Ernest Butterworth (1916-1975)
1974-1980	J. H. Cohen
1980-1982	Heather E. Sharman
1982-1987	Frank D. Bryan
1987-2001	Donna M. D. Wilson-Kives
2001-2006	Cathi Hill
2006-2008	Dushant Persaud
2008-2013	Gary John Comack (?-2013)
2013-2018	Rosalind Moore
2018-?	Aaron Benarroch

Vice-Principals

Period	Principal
1969-1970	Robert Walter Cross (?-2008)
1970-1972	Harold Andrew Lyons (1919-1987)

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1899-1900	Miss McDonald, Miss McDougall, Miss Shepperd, Miss L. Stewart, Miss Lane, Miss White, Miss Urquhart
1900-1901	Miss E. E. Rankin, Miss M. F. McDonald, Mrs L. Burch, Miss M. E. J. Young, Miss K. E. Lane, Miss N. Breen, Miss L. White, Miss M. B. Harris
1901-1902	Miss E. E. Rankin, Miss A. Pollar, Miss L. Burch, Miss K. Lane, Miss M. Young, Miss E. Breen, Miss L. White, Miss C. Bastedo, Miss M. B. Harris
1902-1903	Mrs E. E. Rankin, Miss Annie Pollar, Mrs L. Burch, Miss K. Lane, Miss M. E. Young, Miss E. Breen, Miss L. White, Miss E. McVicar, Miss A. C. Harris
1903-1904	Miss Adair, Miss A. Pullar, Miss Burch, Miss Lane, Miss Cole, Miss Breen, Miss White, Miss McVicar, Miss Dickie, Miss Walton
1904-1905	Miss Davis, Miss Matthew, Miss Dickle, Miss McVicar, Miss White, Miss Breen, Miss Cole, Miss Hamilton, Miss A. Pullar, Mrs. Adair
1905-1906	Mrs. Adair, Miss E. Thornton, Miss E. Hamilton, Miss M. Davidson, Miss L. O. Cole, Miss E. Breen, Miss J. Rutherford, Miss A. M. Harris, Miss F. McColl, Miss Ivy Cull
1906-1907	?
1907-1908	Miss E. Munro, Miss T. M. Hamilton, Miss M. Davidson, Miss L. O. Cole, Miss B. Gunne, Miss A. Cole, Miss L. L. Kennedy, Miss F. Hickey, Miss I. Cull, Miss M. Corbett
1908-1909	Miss L. White, Miss M. Corbett, Miss M. Mitchell, Miss E. Hickie, Miss L. L. Kennedy, Miss A. Cole, Miss E. M. Philip, Miss O. Cole, Miss M. Davidson, Miss E. Hamilton
1909-1910	?
1910-1911	Miss E. M. Hamilton, Miss L. O. Cole, Miss E. M. Philp, Miss H. Harper, Miss Edna Talbot, Miss L. L. Kennedy, Miss E. M. Hickie, Miss L. White, Miss E. M. Wright, Miss M. Corbett
1911-1912	Miss E. Hamilton, Miss O. Cole, Miss M. Harper, Miss M. Philip, Miss L. L. Kennedy, Miss M. E. McKinnon, Miss T. H. Hickie, Miss M. Disney, Miss L. White, Mrs. Anderson
1912-1913	Miss Hamilton, Miss Cole, Miss M. Harper, Miss I. Haig, Miss Philp, Miss H. C. Sproule, Miss Kennedy, Miss Disney, Miss White, Mrs. Anderson
1913-1914	Mrs. Blakely, Miss Marie MacNeil, Miss A. McLeod, Miss Helen Tait, Miss M. Disney, Miss L. Kennedy, Miss M. Philip, Miss I. Haig, Miss M. Harper, Miss S. Hamilton
1914-1915	Miss E. Hamilton, Miss M. Harper, Miss I. Haig, Miss E. M. Philp, Miss M. Disney, Miss L. Kennedy, Miss A. McLeod, Miss M. MacNeil, Mrs. E. M. Blakely
1915-1916	E. Hamilton, M. Harper, I. Haig, M. McCharles, M. Disney, L. Kennedy, A. McLeod, M. McNeil, E. N. Blakely
1916-1917	I. T. Haig, M. Hill, M. McCharles, M. E. Disnay, A. L. Kennedy, A. McLeod, M. A. McNeil, F. M. Blakely, J. Sutherland
1917-1918	I. T. Haig, M. Hill, M. McCharles, M. E. Disney, E. McPherson, A. L. Kennedy, A. McLeod, M. A. McNeil, J. Sutherland, C. Milne
1918-1919	I. T. Haig, M. I. Hill, M. McCharles, M. Disney, E. McPherson, E. Kennedy, A. Cairns, G. M. Shewell, M. A. McNeil, E. P. Kent, J. Sutherland, A. L. Williams
1919-1920	E. Caldbeck, M. Forrester, A. B. Grover, E. Kennedy, M. J. Lawton, C. M. Moffatt, M. McCharles, M. A. McNeil, E. McPherson, J. Sutherland
1920-1921	?
1921-1922	E. Brady, E. Caldbick, D. H. Green, I. T. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, M. J. Lawton, M. MacNeil, E. McPherson, G. Rolston, J. Sutherland
1922-1923	E. Corbett, E. Conroy, B. G. Ferguson, I. T. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, M. Lawton, E. McPherson, M. Murray, E. M. Riley, J. Sutherland, Jean Isabel Wellwood
1923-1924	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, B. G. Ferguson, I. T. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, M. J. Lawton, E. McPherson, M. Murray, M. Onhauser, Elsie Riley, J. Sutherland
1924-1925	E. Caldbick, H. I. Coleman, W. Conroy, B. Ferguson, I. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, E. McPherson, M. Murray, M. Onhauser, Elsie Riley, J. Sutherland
1925-1926	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, B. Ferguson, I. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, M. Murray, M. McNeil, E. McPherson, E. J. Riley, J. Sutherland
1926-1927	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, B. Ferguson, M. Forhan, E. V. Hendry, I. Haig, E. Kennedy, M. McNeil, E. McPherson, M. Murray, J. Sutherland
1927-1928	H. Ackland, E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, L. Fogarty, I. T. Haig, E. Kennedy, M. Murray, M. McNeil, E. McPherson, Elsie Riley, J. Sullivan
1928-1929	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, L. Fogarty, I. T. Haig, E. L. Kennedy, M. MacNeil, E. McPherson, M. Murray, E. M. Riley, J. Sutherland, W. Wolfson
1929-1930	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, L. J. Fogarty, I. T. Haig, M. M. McNeil, E. McPherson, M. Murray, E. M. Riley, J. Sutherland
1930-1931	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, V. Eyolfson, L. Fogarty, I. Haig, M. McKinnon, M. Macneil, E. McPherson, M. Murray, E. M. Riley, J. Sutherland
1931-1932	E. Aikenhead, E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, I. Eyolfson, L. Fogarty, I. Haig, E. McPherson, M. MacNeill, M. Murray
1932-1933	E. Caldbick, W. Conroy, V. Eyolfson, L. Fogarty, I. T. Haig, I. Jeffries, M. Macneil, M. Murray, E. Nelson
1933-1934	E. Caldbick, V. C. Eyolfson, L. J. Fogarty, D. H. Green, I. T. Haig, I. K. Jeffries, M. MacNeil, M. Murray, E. T. Nelson, M. Nixton
1934-1935	E. Caldbick, V. Eyolfson, L. Fogarty, D. H. Green, I. T. Haig, I. Jeffries, M. MacNeil, M. Murray, E. T. Nelson, M. Nixon
1935-1936	M. Caldbick, V. Eyolfson, I. Finnie, L. Fogarty, D. Green, I. T. Haig, I. Jeffries, H. Macneil, E. T. Nelson, M. Nixon
1936-1937	E. Caldbick, V. Eyolfson, L. J. Fogarty, D. Green, I. T. Haig, I. K. Jefferies, M. MacNeil, E. T. Nelson, M. H. Nixon
1937-1938	E. Caldbick, V. Eyolfson, L. Fogarty, I. T. Haig, I. K. Jefferies, M. Macneil, E. Nelson, M. Nixon
1938-1939	V. Eyolfson, M. McP. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. Haig, H. Hepworth, I. K. Jefferies, M. Macneil, M. H. Nixon, E. Speer, H. Vandecar
1939-1940	M. E. Cranston, V. Eyolfson, J. McP. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. K. Jefferies, M. A. MacNeill, M. H. Nixon, E. A. Speer
1940-1941	M. Cranson, L. Downing, V. Eyolfson, J. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. K. Jefferies, M. McNeill, M. Nixon, M. Prygrocki
1941-1942	M. Cranson, L. Downing, V. Eyolfson, J. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. Jeffreys, M. Macneil, M. Nixon, M. Prygrocki
1942-1943	M. Cranson, L. Downing, V. Eyolfson, J. McP. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. K. Jeffries, M. Macneil, M. Nixon
1943-1944	C. O. Boyd, M. Cranston, L. M. Downing, J. M. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. K. Jeffries, M. Macneil
1944-1945	?
1945-1946	M. Cranston, G. Crowe, L. M. Downing, J. Fraser, D. H. Green, I. K. Jeffries, E. Steel
1946-1947	Elementary department: G. Crowe, L. M. Downing, D. H. Green, J. M. Fraser, J. Hayes, O. Lestition, M. Page, E. B. Steel. Intermediate department: J. L. Grainger
1947-1948	G. Crowe, J. M. P. Fraser, J. C. Grainger, D. H. Green, G. Kepman, M. Scarfe, E. Sims, E. Townsin
1948-1949	J. D. Campbell, Miss G. Crowe, Miss M. Edwards, Miss G. Kepman, Miss E. C. Peterson, Miss E. Pettypiece, Miss E. Townsin
1949-1950	J. D. Campbell, Miss G. Crowe, Miss K. M. Duffy, Miss G. Kepman, Mrs. H. M. Sargent, Mrs. L. Sawatzky, Mrs. E. Thorne
1950-1951	Miss M. Bunting, Miss G. Crowe, Miss K. M. Duffy, H. C. Harper, Miss G. Kopman, Mrs. H. Sargeant, Mrs. E. Thorne, Mrs. R. F. Turner
1951-1952	Miss A. Borkey, Miss K. Duffy, Miss I. L. Epp, H. Harper, Miss G. Kepman, Mrs. E. Thorne, Mrs. R. F. Tuner
1952-1953	?
1953-1954	Miss M. Hamilton, Miss M. Houston, Mrs. O. Kieshka, Mrs. M. Knudson, Miss M. Page, Mrs. M. Perlmutter, Miss A. Picard, Donald A. Schmidt, Mrs. G. Sibersky
1954-1955	Miss M. W. Hamilton, Mrs. B. Horsburgh, Miss M. Houston, Mrs. O. Kieshka, Mrs. M. A. Knudson, Mrs. M. Perlmutter, Miss A. Picard, Donald A. Schmidt, Mrs. G. Sibersky
1955-1956	C. J. Alward, Miss M. W. Hamilton, Mrs. G. Hill, Mrs. B. Horsburgh, Miss M. Houston, Mrs. O. Kieshka, Mrs. M. Perlmutter, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. G. Sibersky
1956-1957	Mrs. M. Dutton, Miss M. Hamilton, Mrs. B. Horsburgh, Mrs. V. Houghton, Miss M. Houston, Miss A. Jackson, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. G. Sibersky, K. Smith
1957-1958	Miss R. Hamilton, Mrs. B. Horsburgh, Mrs. V. Houghton, Mrs. M. Houston, Miss A. Jackson, Mr. A. Lawson, Mrs. M. McElroy, Mr. M. Pelletier, Miss A. Picard, Mr. K. Smith, Miss O. Uhryniuk
1958-1959	Miss W. Cook, Miss R. Hamilton, Mrs. V. Houghton, Thomas A. Kalichak, Miss M. Leese, Miss S. Maksimow, J. D. M. Pelletier, Miss A. Picard, Miss I. Robertson,Miss O. Uhryniuk
1959-1960	Mrs. H. Evans, Miss R. Hamilton, Mrs. V. Houghton, Thomas A. Kalichak, Mrs. L. Lunney, Miss S. Maksimow, J. D. M. Pelletier, Miss A. Picard, Miss O. Uhryniuk
1960-1961	Irene Gayowsky, Miss R. Hamilton, Mrs. V. Houghton, Thomas A. Kalichak, Mrs. L. Lunney, Miss S. Maksimow, Miss A. Picard, Miss O. Uhryniuk
1961-1962	Mrs. M. Apostle, Irene Gayowsky, Miss R. Hamilton, Mrs. V. Houghton, J. Jaman, Thomas A. Kalichak, Miss M. Maksimow, Miss A. Picard, Miss O. Uhryniuk
1962-1963	Irene Gayowsky, ?
1963-1964	Mrs. M. Apostle, K. Chohan, Miss M. Freeborn, Irene Gayowsky, Mrs. M. Harrison, Mrs. V. Houghton, J. Jaman, Miss D. Kosakwich, Miss A. Picard, Mrs. M. Saxton
1964-1966	Closed
1966-1967	F. Fedoruk, J. Kahana, J. E. Sigurjonsson
1967-1968	D. Curtis, P. Huebner, Mrs. I. Humeny, Dr. D. Jefferson, J. Kahana, P. Koo, J. Kupp, Mrs. M. Lind, Miss R. Martinussen, C. Price, Mrs. D. Pruden, A. Schultz, Mrs. H. Sharmon, S. Sigurdson, J. Sigurjonsson, Mrs. M. Soloway
1968-1969	D. Curtis, Mrs. L. Dimerman, R. G. Duff, P. Huebner, Mrs. I. Humeny, T. Irwin, J. Kahana, P. Koo, Miss M. Leggatt, Mrs. M. Lind, Miss R. Martinussen, H. Paetkau, Mrs. M. J. Phillips, C. Price, Mrs. O. Pruden, Mrs. H. Sharman, S. Sigurdson, J. Sigurjonsson, Mrs. M. Soloway, D. Turner

Photos & Coordinates

Architectural drawing of Isbister School (no date) Source: Province of Manitoba, Plans and Specifications for Rural Schools, 1903. [Manitoba Legislative Library] Postcard view of Isbister School (circa 1912) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2012-0055 Isbister School (June 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Isbister School commemorative plaque (2010) Source: City of Winnipeg Isbister School (2010) Source: City of Winnipeg Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89272, W97.15035 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Cecil Rhodes School (136 Cecil Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Isbister School No. 500 (RM of Springfield)

Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Kennedy Isbister (1822-1883)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“The Isbister School,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 27 September 1898, page 4.

“Opening of city schools,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 2 September 1899, page 4.

“Assignment of teachers,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 1 September 1900, page 1.

“Holidays end Tuesday next,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1901, page 10.

“The staff of city teachers,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 1 September 1902, page 3.

“City schools re-open Monday,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 August 1903.

“City schools open to-morrow,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 31 August 1904, page 3.

“Assignment of Winnipeg teachers,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 September 1905.

“Changes in city schools,” Manitoba Free Press, 31 August 1907.

“Re-opening of schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1908, page 1.

“Teachers named for all schools,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 September 1910, page 3.

“Assignment of teachers for Winnipeg Schools which open on Sept. 15,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1911, page 9.

“City schools staff assembling in Sept.,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1912, page 8.

“Opening of the Winnipeg public schools has been set for Monday next,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 August 1913, pages 1 and 2.

“Here’s your teacher!” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 August 1914, page 6.

“School Board assigns teachers,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1915, page 9.

“Reduce staff of teachers at high schools Monday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 August 1916, pages 1 & 12.

“Boundaries of schools are named,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 24 August 1917, page 9.

“Complete plans to open schools Tuesday for 30,000 children,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 30 August 1918, page 14.

“Teachers are selected for various grades,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 August 1919, page 3.

“Winnipeg schools, No. 12—Isbister,” Manitoba Free Press, 28 October 1922, page 3.

“Isbister early famed for sports, mouth organ band” by Claire Tisdale, Winnipeg Free Press, 27 January 1949.

Isbister School, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

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

We thank the Winnipeg School Division and Reid Dickie for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 4 July 2022

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