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Construction of Kirkfield Park School #1 on the north side Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, as a replacement for Sturgeon Creek School, began in 1949. Delayed by the 1950 Winnipeg flood and labour action, the four-classroom wood frame and stucco structure was built by Building Mechanics Limited at a cost of $49,850 and was completed in mid-September 1950.
In 1953, construction of a second building, just west of the first building at the northeast corner of School Road and Portage Avenue, was begun. Its cornerstone was laid on 21 September 1953. Attending the ceremony were School Inspector Harvey Richard Brown, architects Walter Katelnikoff and Dennis Hampton Carter (of the firm Smith Carter and Katelnikoff), School Board Chairman Mr. F. Benjaminson, trustees Mrs. H. McBride, Mr. V. Harbottle, and Mr. M. Schneider, Principal Joseph Antonin “Tony” Duhamel, Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. R. A. Sansome, and M. Solonyka of Semmier Construction Company. On 23 November 1953, it was officially opened by Wallace Conrad Miller. The eight-classroom facility cost about $83,000 to build and initially hosted around 260 pupils. A four-classroom addition, also designed by Smith Carter and Katelnikoff, was built in 1955 at a cost of $36,000. Grades 1 and 2 were held in School #1 while grades 3 to 11 were in School #2. During the fall of 1963, construction began on a gymnasium, a new heating plant for Schools #1 and #2, and other renovations, completed at a cost of $144,425.
Following a Department of Education decision to make local school boards responsible for the education of students with disabilities, in 1967 the school was converted into an educational centre for such students. It replaced a previous facility at the Kinsmen School, which then realigned to focus on pre-school ages. Operational costs were split between the Assiniboine North School Division and the St. James School Division. After a few renovations, the facility opened in September 1967 with six classrooms and 57 students.
The former students of Schools #1 and #2 were accommodated temporarily at Heritage School or Lincoln School while Arthur Oliver School was being constructed. They went there starting in 1968.
Closed around 1990, Kirkfield Park Schools #1 and #2 were demolished around 1994. The site is presently occupied by a supermarket and its parking lot.
Period
Principal
Before 1950
1944-1952
Frances Elizabeth Ateah (1910-1990)
1952-1957
Joseph Antonin “Anthony/Tony” Duhamel (1919-2003)
1957-1959
Raymond Arthur Joseph “Ray” Labelle (c1931-1981)
1959-1962
John Sigfus Helgason (1898-1978)
1962-1963
Nicholas “Nick” Kohuch (1926-2015)
1963-1964
Nicholas “Nick” Kohuch (1926-2015) - mornings
Michael A. “Mike” Yaremchuk - afternoons1964-1965
Emile R. Dupas
1965-1966
Dennis Neil Stefanson (1939-2010)
1966-1967
William “Bill” Burdeniuk (1932-2010)
1967-1972
Andrew Otchenash (1927-2007)
1972-1977
John Arnold “Jack” Elliott
1977-1981
Anne Masniuk
1981-1986
David James Bertnick (1947-2017)
1986-1987
Daryl Johnson
1987-1988
?
1988-1990
Betty Rae
School Year
Teachers
Before 1950
1950-1951
Frances Elizabeth Willard Gray Ateah (grades 7-9), Mary Funk Badman (grade 5), Ida Doris Dushenko (grade 6), Christina Fraser (grade 1), Irene May Fraser (grade 3), Joyce Lorraine McConnell (grade 2), Adolphe Sochaski (grade 7), Hedwig Margaret Strand (grade 4)
1951-1952
Ella S. Anderson (grade 3, November-June), Frances Elizabeth Willard Gray Ateah (grades 8-9), Mary Funk Badman (grade 5), Bernice Marie Berthelette (grade 1), Ida Doris Dushenko (grade 6), Ada Isabel Moore (grade 2), Eleanor Lydia Siemens (grade 7), Anne Skrabek (grade 3, September-November), Hedwig Margaret Strand (grade 4)
1952-1953
Jean Margaret Adams (grade 3), Evelyn R. Black (grade 5), Emma Clarke (grades 1-2), Joseph A. “Tony” Duhamel (grades 8-9), Mary Ewashko (grade 7), Rossie T. J. Lundy (grade 4), Melville Henderson Pearce (grade 7), Theresa Yvonne Petit (grade 1)
1953-1954
Jean Margaret Adams (grade 3), Marie-Jean Baril (grades 2-3), Mary Bilash (grade 8), Joseph A. “Tony” Duhamel (grade 7), Mary Ewashko (grade 5), D. Horosko (grade 7?) Theresa Yvonne Petit (grade 1), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Irene Sulymka (grade 6), Annie Marguerite Thorpe (grade 1), Mary Emma Watson (grade 9), Jeannette Wilkie (grade 4)
1954-1955
Jean Margaret Adams (grades 2-3), Marie-Jean Baril (grades 3-4), Mary Bilash (grade 8), Theresa Vyonne Petit Chartrand (grade 1, September-December), Mary Ewashko (grade 5), Edith Anita Havixbeck (grade 1), Gloria Doris Martens (grade 1, January-June), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Irene Sulymka (grade 6), Gloris Doris Martens (grade 1, January-June), Stefan Bjorgvin Stefansson (grade 10), Annette Manchur (grade 4), Mary Jane Phillips (grade 7), Mary Emma Watson (grade 9)
1955-1956
Jean Margaret Adams (grade 3), Marie-Jean Baril (grades 3-4), Mary Bilash (grade 8), Lillian Euphemia Campbell (grade 10), Mary Ewashko (grade 5), Vera Ellen Hanneson (grade 6), Edith Anita Havixbeck (grade 1), Michael Huska (grade 9), Annette Manchur (grades 4-5), Mary Jane Phillips (grade 7), Stefan Bjorgvin Stefansson (grade 11), Mary L. Vereb (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1)
1956-1957
Lena Allison (grade 11, September-October), Marie-Jean Baril (grade 3), Mary Bilash (grade 8), Lillian Euphemia Campbell (grade 10), Dorothy Pauline Coates (grade 7, January-June), Tena Friesen (grade 6), Marjorie Ellen Geddes (grade 5, September-December), Margaret Alice Knudson (grade 7, September-December), Lara Kristjansson (grades 3-4), Nicholas “Nick” Melnychuk (grade 9), Marie Anne Ostermann (grade 4), Jessie Peters (grade 5, January-June), Mary Jane Phillips (grade 11, November-June), Florence A. Reichert (grades 5-6), Marie Martha Claudette Bergeron Schafer (grade 1), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Mary L. Vereb (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1)
1957-1958
Mary Bilash (grade 7), Sylvia Ayers Benson (grade 5, September-December), Valerie G. Bergeron (grade 2, January-June), Patricia L. Carney (grade 5, January-June), Annette Champagne (grade 2, September-December), Theresa Vyonne Petit Chartrand (grade 1), Emile R. Dupas (grade 8), Thelma Jean Fanning (grade 6), Francois J. Gallais (grade 9), Morris M. Hryhor (grade 11), Lara Kristjansson (grade 4), Marie Louise Last (grades 4-5), Christina Nestdagh (grade 1), Mrs. I. Jean Nixon (grades 6-7, April-June), Mrs. P. Rodmunsky (grades 6-7, September-April), Annette Schaldemose (grades 3-4), Jean Sigurdson (grade 10), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Gloria Barbara Trupp (grade 3), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1)
1958-1959
Mary Bilash (grade 7), Valerie G. Bergeron (grade 2), Patricia L. Carney (grade 5), Theresa Vyonne Petit Chartrand (grade 1), Emile R. Dupas (grade 8), Mary Ewashko (grades 5-6), Thelma Jean Fanning (grade 6), Lucile Jeanne Freynet (grades 4-8), Morris M. Hryhor (grade 11), Lara Kristjansson (grade 4), Juanita Lynne Loat (grade 3), Christina Nestdagh (grade 1), James Nolan (grade 9), Elma Patterson (grade 4, January-June), Irene Paradis (grade 4, September-December), Annette Schaldemose (grade 3), Joan V. Turner (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1)
1959-1960
Philip Alexiuk (grade 8), Jane Baker (grade 1), Mary Bilash (grade 7), William Burdeniuk (grade 6), Patricia L. Carney (grade 5), Theresa Deneschuk (grade 1), Emilie Dmyterko (grade 1), Emile R. Dupas (grade 8), Mary Ewashko (grade 3), Lucile Jeanne Freynet (grade 4), Morris M. Hryhor (grade 11), Juanita Lynne Loat (grade 3), Elma Patterson (grade 4), Annette Schaldemose (grade 3), Ardeen May Sokalski (grade 2), Dennis Neil Stefanson (grade 6), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Joan V. Turner (grade 2), Delores Marie Tymos (grade 5), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1), Margaret Evelyn Zachary (grade 7)
1960-1961
Philip Alexiuk (grade 8), Jane Baker (grade 1), Gladys Jane Bodnarus (grade 2), Theresa Vyonne Petit Chartrand (grade 1), Theresa Deneschuk (grade 1), Emilie Dmyterko (grade 1), Emile R. Dupas (grade 8), Mary Ewashko (grade 3, September-January), Lucile Jeanne Freynet (grade 4), Bernice Leona Lewis (grade 3, February-June), Juanita Lynne Loat (grade 3), Joan Violet Neufeld (grade 2), Elma Patterson (grade 4), Elizabeth Marguerite Savard (grade 3), Annette Schaldemose (grade 3), Lily Schoenrath (grade 2, January-June), Ardeen May Sokalski (grade 2, September-December), Constance Molly Stallard (grade 4), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Shirley Agnes Walsh (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1), Margaret Evelyn Zachary (grade 5)
1961-1962
Jane Baker (grade 1), Gladys Jane Bodnarus (grade 2), Theresa Vyonne Petit Chartrand (grade 1), Theresa Deneschuk (grade 1), Emilie Dmyterko (grade 1), Bernice Leona Lewis (grade 3), Juanita Lynne Loat (grade 3), Irene Nash (grade 2, June), Inez E. Roberts (grade 3), Annette Schaldemose (grade 3), Irene “Verna” Smith (grade 3), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Shirley Agnes Walsh (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1), Ruth Viola Wylie (grade 2, September-May)
1962-1963
Helene Esther Bock (grade 2, September-December), Marilyn Ardath Cotton (grade 3), Theresa Deneschuk (grade 1), Emilie Dmyterko (grade 1), Alice Rose-Marie Guest (grade 2), Jeannette Ida Elizabeth Lacey (grade 1), Bernice Leona Lewis (grade 3), Juanita Lynne Loat (grade 3), Inezs Jane McElroy (grade 2), Nell Marcella Ramsay (grade 2, January-June), Inez E. Roberts (grade 3), Annette Schaldemose (grade 3), Elsie Marion Shwaluk (grade 4), Irene “Verna” Smith (grade 3, September-March), Jane Baker Steinleitner (grade 1), Grace Emily Stevens (grade 2), Anne Tanchak (grade 1), Shirley Agnes Walsh (grade 2), Emily Henrietta Webster (grade 1), Florence Joyce Yakimisky (grade 3, April-June)
1963-1964
?
1964-1965
?
1965-1966
?
1966-1967
?
1967-1968
?
1968-1969
?
1969-1970
?
1970-1971
?
1971-1972
?
1972-1973
?
1973-1974
?
1974-1975
?
1975-1976
?
1976-1977
?
1977-1978
?
1978-1979
?
1979-1980
?
1980-1981
?
1981-1982
?
1982-1983
?
1983-1984
?
1984-1985
?
1985-1986
?
1986-1987
?
1987-1988
?
1988-1989
?
1989-1990
?
Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88158, W97.28900
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sturgeon Creek School No. 30 (3095 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Arthur Oliver School (647 School Road, Winnipeg)
Manitoba Business: Smith Carter and Katelnikoff / Smith Carter Architects and Engineers / Architecture49
“Tenders,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 March 1950, page 25.
“Sturgeon Creek School construction progress,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 July 1950, page 3.
“Flood and strike,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 September 1950, page 3.
“Heavy construction program is planned,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1953, page 3.
“Sturgeon Creek School vote Friday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 June 1953, page 3.
[Photo caption], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 September 1953, page 11.
“Miller to open Kirkfield Park School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 November 1953, page 3.
“Notice of tender [Kirkfield Park School],” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 February 1955, page 32.
“Sturgeon Creek,” Winnipeg Free Press, 27 August 1955, page 3.
“The Kirkfield Park School District No. 30” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1964, page 14.
“Assiniboia school construction starts,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 June 1967, page 28.
“Taking the initial step to happiness,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 September 1967, page 6.
Obituary [Stefan Bjorgvin Stefansson (1889-1971)], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 March 1971, page 36.
“Two schools to close,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly West Edition, 3 June 1990, page 3.
“Board credits closings for keeping levies down,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1993, page B3.
“School buildings for sale,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 November 1993, page B20.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
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.
Manitoba School Records Collection, Sturgeon Creek School District No. 30 / Kirkfield Park School District No. 30 - Daily Registers, GR9926, Archives of Manitoba.
Summative half-yearly returns for school districts (A 0051), GR0571, Archives of Manitoba.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
Kirkfield Park School History, 1904-1974, St. James Assiniboia School Division, circa 1974.
Obituary [Gladys Jane Bodnarus], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 2022.
School division half-yearly attendance reports (E 0757), Archives of Manitoba.
We thank the St. James Assiniboia School Division, Mari-Jean Nachtigall, and Robert Harbottle for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 18 April 2026
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