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Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
In August 1919, the Municipality of West Kildonan (now part of Winnipeg), commissioned a new school to be built at the northeast corner of Jefferson Avenue and Andrews Street to alleviate overcrowding in Centennial School and Governor Semple School.
On 5 March 1920, plans were accepted for a one-storey, brick, ten-classroom school, measuring 65 feet by 225 feet, designed by local architect Edgar Prain. To be named Victory School for the recent Allied victory in the First World War, it was opened officially on 26 November 1920 at a ceremony attended by Lieutenant Governor James Albert Manning Aikins, Minister of Education Robert Stirton Thornton, and municipal Reeve Charles Albert Tanner. Eventually, it became part of the Seven Oaks School Division.
In 1949, a bylaw was passed allotting $70,000 for an expansion. School capacity was enhanced in 1950 with the addition of six classrooms also designed by Edgar Prain. The official expansion opening was on 16 November 1950, at which dignitaries included Mayor Cecil Joseph Henry Lyon, chief school inspector Clifford Knox Rogers, West Kildonan School Board Chairman William T. Jenkinson, district school inspector Eleanor Boyce, and Principal John Leamen.
On 4 October 1990, a new 659-square-meter facility expansion was added to accommodate handicapped students.
Period
Principal
1920-1929
John William Lawbe Doubleday (1867-1938)
1929-1935
Earl Innes Fritch (1891-1983)
1935-1936
Eldon Franklin Simms (1907-1964)
1936-1953
John Leamen (1908-1967)
1953-1960
John Walter Clarke (c1887-1972)
1960-1961
Robert William “Bobby” Bend (1914-1999)
1961-1964
John Frederick Archibald “Jack” Partridge (1912-1966)
1965
Agnes Isabelle Arnold (1908-1996)
1965-1969
Vyrna A. Havard Heggie (1924-1994)
1969-1980
Mary Kolach Faseruk (c1925-2001)
1980-1988
?
1988-1990
Louise Evaschesen (c1940-2024)
1991
Murray Otter
School Year
Teachers
1944-1945
Vivian D. Glass, Ethel Winnifred Harrison, ?
1945-1946
1946-1947
1947-1948
1948-1949
Shirley Branston, Elsie MacKay, Edith Miller, Edna Poersch, Elaine Thorpe, ?
1949-1950
?
1950-1951
?
1951-1952
?
1952-1953
?
1953-1954
Miss Clark (grade 1), Miss Lyons (grade 1), ?
1954-1955
Miss Krayeski (grade 2), ?
1955-1956
Miss V. Denhardt (grade 3), ?
Among the other teachers who worked at Victory School was Edward Kowalchuk.
Victory School (c1922)
Source: “West Kildonan school system expands,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 September 1922, page 2.
Victory School (June 2014)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Victory School (July 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Victory School (September 2023)
Source: Jordan MakichukSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.93702, W97.12937
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Edgar Prain (1881-1958)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Victory School No. 1143 (Municipality of Lorne)
“West Kildonan will open Victory School,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 November 1920, page 6.
“Teachers honored,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 June 1949, page 13.
Obituary [Ethel Winnifred Harrison], Winnipeg Tribune, 1 September 1949, page 10.
“Majority slim in referendum,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 October 1949, page 1.
“West Kildonan opens Victory School wing,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 November 1950, page 10.
“Seven Oaks teacher assignments announced,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 September 1960, page 5.
“Principals shifted in close vote,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 1964, page 24.
A Historical Study of Public Education in West Kildonan to 1959 by Raymond Ronald Bailey, MEd thesis, University of Manitoba, 1966.
“Victory School tea,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 March 1967, page 22.
“Victory School tea,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 March 1969, page 15.
“Pages from the past reveals true reason for W.K’s Victory,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 March 1970, page 26.
“Early settlers tea at Victory School,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 April 1970, page 13.
“Designing playground excites Grade 4,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 March 1977, page 4.
“A victory at Victory School,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly North Section, 5 June 1988, page 3.
“Victory School throwing party,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly North Section, 30 September 1990, page 5.
“Deadline may keep Apples out of classes,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly North Section, 11 February 1992, page 3.
Victory School, Seven Oaks School Division.
We thank Rose Kuzina, Bill Stevens, and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 5 August 2025
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