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This two-storey brick and stone school, on the south side of Lorne Avenue between 14th and 15th streets in Brandon, was designed by local architect William Alexander Elliott. Built between 1904 and 1905 by the Brandon Construction Company at a cost of about $38,000, it was opened to the public at a ceremony on Arbor Day, 4 May 1905, replacing the former West Ward School at the site. The building’s interior was decorated with walls of mahogany and western pine with floors of British Columbia fir. It had ten classrooms, a principal’s office, a reception room, a teachers’ room, and an assembly hall on the second floor.
In the early 1970s, the Brandon School Division declared the building redundant and, in November 1975, its remaining students were transferred to the newly constructed Betty Gibson School, built on the site of the demolished Alexandra School. The Park School building was sold to Brandon University for $1, for use as office space and a day-care centre. However, in late 1977, when costs of renovations were found to be excessive, the university returned ownership to the Division. No other offers to purchase the old building were received and it was demolished in September 1978.
Period
Principal
1905-1906
Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (1868-1949)
1907-1909
Lee John Cranston (1880-1924)
1909-1922
Shirley Annie Redmond (1876-?)
1922-1923
Donald Shippey Lent (1895-?)
1923-1925
Hugh S. Brown (c1901-?)
1925-1926
Arthur Victor Pigott (1900-1987)
1926-1927
Albert Wallace Craigie (1891-1964)
1927-1929
John Hammond Irwin (1886-1952)
1929-1931
Perry Bell (1897-1956)
1931-1941
Vernon Albert Shewfelt (1903-1982)
1941-1942
Henry Frederick Hyson (1904-1979)
1942-1944
Roy Bernard Lobb (1903-1981)
1944-1946
William John Peden (1903-1991)
1946-1954
James Irving Bateman (1911-2000)
1954-1964
Donald Sutherland Sumner (1928-2014)
1964-1965
Edward Tierney Cantwell (1917-1985)
1965-1969
Robert Troy “Bob” Blair (1930-2024)
1969-1971
Brian W. Paterson
1971-1974
?
1974-1975
Mr. Hamburg
Period
Principal
1922-1923
Lois M. Smith
1923-1961
?
1961-1964
Edward Tierney “Ted” Cantwell (1916-1985)
1964-1965
J. D. SImpson
1965-1966
?
1966-1967
G. T. Gibbons
School Year
Teachers
1901-1902
Miss McLeod (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), ?
1902-1903
Miss Hilton (grade 2), Miss McLeod (grade 1), ?
1903-1904
?
1904-1905
?
1905-1906
Miss Eva Ferguson (grade 2), Miss Mabel J. Grant (grade 1), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Mr. McLaren (grade 4), Miss McLeod (grade 1), Miss Kate McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 8), Miss Margaret L. Mott (grade 5), Miss Mary Percival (grade 3), Miss Maude Pilling (grade 2), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Sing (grade 3)
1906-1907
Miss Clare Alexander, Miss Eva Ferguson, Mabel J. Grant, Nettie L. Harrison, Miss Mary E. Magee, Maude J. McGillivray, Joseph McLaren (drill master), Miss Kate McMillan, Laura Marie Antoinette Mott, Mary Percival, Miss Maude Pilling, Shirley Annie Redmond, Isabella Sinclair (drawing teacher)
1907-1908
Miss Clare Alexander (grade 3 Sr), L. J. Cranton (grade 8), Miss M. Grant (grade 2 Sr), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Miss Kate McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 5), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3 Jr), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1 Jr), Miss Maude Pilling (grade 2), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Grace Todd (grade 3 Sr)
1908-1909
Miss A. M. Courtney (grade 5), L. J. Cranton (grade 8), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Miss McMillan (grade 4), Laura Marie Antoinette Mott (grade 7), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Miss Annie Ramshaw (grade 1), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 7), Miss Todd (grade 2)
1909-1910
Miss A. M. Courtney (grade 5), Miss Jennie Fawcett (grade 4), Miss Mary E. Magee (grade 6), Ethel Alida Paisley (grade 3), Miss Cecie Pelton (grade 1), Miss Maud Pilling (grade 2), Miss Annie Ramshaw (grade 1), Shirley Annie Redmond (grade 8), Miss O. L. A. Wright (grade 7)
1910-1911
Miss Jennie Fawcett, Miss Mary E. Magee, Miss T. Kyle, Caroline Parkinson, Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss Maud Pilling, Miss Bertha M. Strome
1911-1912
Miss Jennie Fawcett, Miss E. J. Kelso, Miss I. Kyle, Miss Mary E. Magee, Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss R. Parker, Miss Maud Pilling, Miss R. Rogers, Miss Bertha M. Strome
1912-1913
Miss Cuthbertson (grade 5), Ethel Alida Paisley, Miss Parker (grade 7), ?
1913-1914
?
1914-1915
?
1915-1916
?
1916-1917
Miss Knowlton, Helen Sarah Leitch, ?
1917-1918
Miss A. Clark, Helen Sarah Leitch, ?
1918-1919
Miss A. Clark, Miss Mary Cuthbertson, Miss J. Fawcett, Miss Ferrier, Miss Flemming, Miss Teresa Kyle, Helen Sarah Leitch, Miss Mary Magee, Miss Maude Pilling, Shirley Annie Redmond, Miss Stocker
1919-1920
Miss A. Clark (grade 1), Miss Mary Cuthbertson (grade ?), Miss Mary Magee, Miss Maude Pilling, Miss Stocker (grade 5), ?
1920-1921
Miss Clendenning (grade 5), Miss Mary Cuthbertson (grade ?, 1921), Miss Annie Galbraith (grade 1), Miss Teresa Kyle, Miss Mary Magee, Miss Maude Pilling, Miss Tena Ross (grade ?, 1920), ?
1921-1922
Eunice Campbell, Miss Vera G. Cramm (grades 1-2), Edith H. Coffrey, Miss Mary Cuthbertson, Jennie Fawcett, Miss Annie Galbraith, Miss Teresa Kyle, Miss Mary Magee, Florence Matheson, Miss Maude Pilling
See also: Brandon Ultimatum (1 May 1922)
1922-1923
Mary Louise Clark, Miss H. Critchley, Mrs. A. V. Hunter, Donald S. Lent, Jean McCaw, Arthur Pachal, Margaret E. Pierce, Hilda Pottinger, Lois M. Smith, Ethel E. Williams
1923-1924
?
1924-1925
?
1925-1926
Clarence Brunton, Evelyn Dorrett, Ethel Gardiner, Phyllis A. Gervin, Mrs. Levins, Jean McCaw, Ooney Olive MacDonald, Arthur Victor Pigott, Hilda Pottinger, Laura Powers, Teena Ross, Gertrude Whitney, Anna E. Wood
1926-1927
A. W. Craigie, E. M. Dorrett, P. A. Gervin, F. M. Levins, F. Nicholson, Ooney Olive MacDonald, Hilda Pottinger, Laura Power, Tena Ross, Norma Wemyss, E. A. Wood
1927-1928
Mrs. Cannon, Miss S. E. Cook, Miss E. M. Dorrett, Miss Beatrice Hall, John Hammond Irwin, Miss B. McLean, Neil Alexander McLennan, Miss Lizzie Nicol, Miss Laura A. Power, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1928-1929
Miss Edna Bowman, Miss Annie Cullen, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss H. Ferguson, Miss Beth Nichol, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1929-1930
?
1930-1931
Edna Bowman, Annie Cullen, Helen Ferguson, Anne Harrison, Beth Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1931-1932
Edna E. Bowman, Annie E. Cullen, Helen M. Ferguson, Annie Harrison, Elizabeth L. Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1932-1933
Edna E. Bowman, Annie E. Cullen, Helen Ferguson, Laura M. Fisher, Beth Nicol, Tena M. Ross, E. Anna Wood
1933-1934
?
1934-1935
Emerson Christilaw, Miss Anne Cullen, Miss Evelyn M. Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Dorothy E. Horton, Miss M. F. Keay (exchange teacher), Miss Tena M. Ross
1935-1936
Emerson Christilaw, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Doris Margeson (exchange teacher), Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss E. Anna Wood
1936-1937
Frances Cater, Evelyn M. Dorrett, Helen Ferguson, Hazel J. Fraser, Tena M. Ross, Alma M. Skeoch
1937-1938
Miss Ella Burkholder, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1938-1939
Miss Ella Burkholder, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1939-1940
Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross, Miss Alma Skeoch
1940-1941
Miss Helen Bjarnason, Miss Bernice Dawson, Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena Ross
1941-1942
Bernice Dawson, Evelyn Dorrett, Helen Ferguson, Hazel Fraser, Rena Ross
1942-1943
Miss Evelyn Dorrett, Mrs. A. M. Eley, Miss Helen Ferguson, Miss Hazel Fraser, Miss Tena M. Ross, Miss Janet O. Wilson
1943-1944
Evelyn Dorrett, A. M. Eley, Helen Ferguson, Hazel J. Fraser, Tena Ross, Janet O. Wilson
1944-1945
?
1945-1946
?
1946-1947
?
1947-1948
?
1948-1949
?
1949-1950
?
1950-1951
?
1951-1952
?
1952-1953
?
1953-1954
?
1954-1955
?
1955-1956
?
1956-1957
Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), ?
1957-1958
Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), ?
1958-1959
Miss P. Allen (grade 2), Mrs. M. Anderson (grade 3), Miss H. Bjarnason (grade 5), Mrs. S. Burns (grade 2), Mrs. J. Cooper (grade 1), Miss H. Fraser (grade 4), G. Gibbons (grade 6), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1), Miss A. Walker (grade 5)
1959-1960
Miss G. Arbuthnott, Mrs. P. Bass, Mrs. J. Cooper, Miss C. Eaton, Miss I. Johnston, N. Kalinski, Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. M. Nielson, Miss D. Pearce, Miss L. Popkin, Donald Sutherland Sumner, Miss A. Walker, Mrs. J. Wyton
1960-1961
Miss G. Arbuthnott (grade 3), Mrs. P. Cairns (grade 5), Mrs. R. Chambers (grade 2), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), N. Kalinski (grade 7), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Moore (grade 5), Mrs. M. Nielson (grade 1), Mrs. Ernest E. Page (page 1), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 7), Mrs. J. Wyton (grade 4)
1961-1962
Mrs. D. Bateman (grade 4), Mrs. P. Cairns (grade 5), Mrs. R. Carduner (special class), Mrs. M. Elvers (grade 1), Mrs. G. Hulme (grade 3), Miss I. Johnston (grade 4), Miss E. Kempthorne (grade 2), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), David John McDowell (grade 5), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Mrs. G. Taylor (grade 1)
1962-1963
Mrs. D. Bateman (grade 4), Mrs. W. Curtis (special classes), Mrs. M. Elvers (grade 1), Mrs. E. Hobson (grade 2), Miss I. Johnstone (grade 4), Miss V. Lundy (grade 6), David John McDowell (grade 5), Miss C. McRoberts (grade 2), Miss L. Popkin (grade 3), Donald Sutherland Sumner (grade 6), Miss E. Walker (grade 5)
1963-1964
Mrs. W. Curtis, Miss J. M. Dietrich, Mrs. M. Elvers, Miss L. M. Foster, Mrs. E. M. Hobson, Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. A. E. Muller, A. F. Oscar, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. E. M. Robinson, Mrs. P. R. Stone
1964-1965
Miss J. R. Ames, Mrs. W. M. Curtis, Miss L. J. Donald, Miss S. L. Hatch (kindergarten), Miss V. Lundy, Mrs. E. M. Mitchell, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. P. J. Putnam, Mrs. E. M. Robinson
1965-1966
Miss J. R. Ames, Miss E. G. Blain, Miss M. D. Bonner, Mrs. W. M. Curtiss, G. T. Gibbons, Miss V. Lundy, Miss L. Popkin, Mrs. M. I. Parkhurst (kindergarten), W. G. Smallwood
1966-1967
Miss E. G. Blain (grade 1), Robert Troy “Bob” Blair (grade 6), Mrs. M. D. Bonnor (grade 2), Ronald J. Dietrich (grade 6), Miss M. D. Frazer (grade 3), Mrs. M. I. Kennedy (special classes), Mrs. L. J. Keown (grade 5), Mrs. A. J. McKinney (special classes), Miss L. Popkin (grade 4), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)
1967-1968
Miss E. G. Blain (grade 1), Robert Troy “Bob” Blair (grade 6), Ronald J. Deitrich (grade 6), G. Gibbons, Mrs. M. I. Kennedy (special), Mrs. L. J. Keown (grade 5), Mrs. A. J. McKinney (special), Mrs. D. Old (grade 3), Miss L. Popkin (grade 4), Miss E. Riddle (grade 2), Mrs. F. B. Snider (kindergarten)
1968-1969
?
1969-1970
?
1970-1971
Mrs. Lane (grade 1), ?
1971-1972
Mrs. Wosney (grade 2), ?
1972-1973
Mrs. Thornton (grade 3), ?
1973-1974
?
1974-1975
Mr. Hamburg (grade 5), ?
1975-1976
Mr. Thompson (grade 6), ?
Postcard view of Park School, seen from a public park north of it (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0054.
Postcard view of Park School (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0056.
Park School (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, School Inspectors Photographs,
GR8461, A0233, C131-3, page 135.
Park School (1967)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Architectural Survey - Brandon - Park 3.
Park School (1967)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Architectural Survey - Brandon - Park 4.Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84500, W99.95736
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: William Alexander Elliott (1866-1957)
Manitoba Business: Brandon Construction Company
Historic Sites of Manitoba: East Ward School (200 Fourth Street, Brandon)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Park School No. 1491 (RM of Armstrong)
“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.
“New school to be built,” Brandon Daily Sun, 14 October 1903, page 1.
“West Ward School contract is let,” Brandon Daily Sun, 27 April 1904, page 1.
“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 29 April 1904, page 1.
“School Board,” Brandon Daily Sun, 9 November 1904, page 2.
“Tenders [West Ward School assembly hall],” Brandon Daily Sun, 4 February 1905, page 4.
“School Board,” Brandon Daily Sun, 8 February 1905, page 8.
“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 10 February 1905, page 1.
“West Ward School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 21 February 1905, page 4.
“Opening of the Park School,” Brandon Daily Sun, 2 May 1905, page 1.
“The Park School opened Friday,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 May 1905, page 1.
“Teaching staff of schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 7 September 1905, page 6.
“New teachers appointed,” Brandon Daily Sun, 6 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.
“Public schools opened today,” Brandon Daily Sun, 3 September 1912, page 1.
“Public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1918, page 6.
“Have full staff of teachers for public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1923, page 1.
“Schools open in Brandon, attendance high,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 2 September 1925, page 11.
“Beginners will be taken into public schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1925, page 1.
“Teaching staff complete for school opening,” Brandon Daily Sun, 30 August 1926, page 6.
“Public schools and collegiate open tomorrow,” Brandon Daily Sun, 31 August 1927, page 1.
“Around town,” Brandon Sun, 1 September 1927, page 9.
“Temporary accommodation for higher grades,” Brandon Daily Sun, 1 September 1928, page 6.
“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.
“Back to school Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 29 August 1958, page 3.
“Brandon school teachers for 1959-60,” Brandon Sun, 29 August 1959, page 2.
“6,000 Brandon students go back to work on Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 3 September 1960, page 12.
“Teachers listed for opening of schools on Tuesday,” Brandon Sun, 2 September 1961, page 12.
“Teachers are assigned to schools,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1962, page 10.
“33 newcomers on elementary schools staff,” Brandon Sun, 21 August 1963, page 15.
“39 newcomers on elementary staff,” Brandon Sun, 19 August 1964, page 13.
“191 teachers placed here,” Brandon Sun, 20 August 1965, page 8.
“Over 200 elementary teachers,”Brandon Sun, 23 August 1966, page 16.
Brandon Elementary Schools, 1867-1979, Canada-Confederation, Brandon School Division, 1967.
“School population explosion kept early school board busy,” Brandon Daily Sun, 28 August 1970, page 8.
“Wreckers demolish Park School,” Brandon Sun, 1 September 1978, page 1.
“Thirty years ago,” Brandon Sun, 13 November 2005, page 6.
“Park School,” Item No. 1-2002.3.1DA16(1), Stuckey Collection, S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank Tom Mitchell, Greg Sigurdson, Catherine Harley, Geraldine Sookorukoff, James Rodgers, Ann Morag Haysom, and Sheri Bailey (Brandon Teachers' Association) for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 25 June 2025
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