Park Avenue School

June 7, 2021

This article was done in partnership with the Lac du Bonnet & District Historical Society. It appeared in the June 3, 2021 edition of the Lac du Bonnet Clipper. 

In 1904, a ten member board held the inaugural meeting of the Lac du Bonnet School District #1235. J.D. McArthur donated land at the corner of Park Avenue and Fourth Street for the school, which was funded through donations and newly implemented school taxes. By July, the logs were cut and the contract was awarded to local builder, Thomas Houston, for a one-room school house. By October, the school hired their first teacher.

Throughout Park Avenue School’s 85 year history, the space couldn’t keep up with the community’s growth. In 1915, a two-room addition expanded the original structure. By 1930, plans were made for a new school. The old buildings were sold and moved off the property to make way for the four-room stuccoed school in 1931. The design, by provincial architect Gilbert Parfitt, included a basement. After only six years, the Riverland Pentecostal Mission Swedish Church hall was rented to provide students’ extra space.

On February 25, 1945, fire destroyed the school. Classes were moved to the municipal and community halls, along with the Pentecostal Mission and St. John’s Anglican parish halls. This arrangement continued for two years. In January 1947, students moved into the new Park Avenue School, though much of the interior finishing was completed that summer.

Lac du Bonnet’s student population continued to grow. By 1955, Park Avenue school had 325 students, of whom 84 were high school level. The community advocated for better educational facilities. By September 1961, construction of a collegiate was underway. 285 students and ten teachers were at the elementary level, while 154 high school students and their five teachers awaited completion of their new building. Classes attended in three finished collegiate classrooms, two rooms in Park Avenue and at the St. John’s church hall. The Lac du Bonnet Collegiate opened November 24, 1961 with space for 160 students in grade 9-12 and featured separate rooms for academic and specialized science applications, and an auditorium.

In 1966, with smaller district schools closing within two years, the decision was made to construct a second eight-classroom elementary school on land purchased by the school board two blocks south of Minnewawa. Park Avenue students occupied the St. John’s hall and two collegiate classrooms until Centennial School opened in May 1967. Grades 5-8 were moved into the new school, while grades 1-4 remained at Park Avenue. The next school year had 456 students and 18 teachers between the two elementary schools. High enrollment also prompted expansion of the collegiate. The renamed Lac du Bonnet Senior School opened October 15, 1971. The addition of more classrooms, a large gymnasium, plus shops and home economics areas, boosted capacity to 425 students.

In 1989, the decision was made to close Park Avenue school. An addition was built onto Centennial to accommodate all of the elementary students for the fall term. Over summer holidays, classroom materials and some playground equipment from Park Avenue were relocated to Centennial. Ownership of the Park Avenue school and property transferred to the Village. High renovation costs and a lack of interest in the building resulted in the school being stripped of all usable materials and demolished. The future of the site was debated, with consideration given to a parking lot, before the 55+ condos of Park Manor opened in 1996.

Despite its closure 32 years ago, Park Avenue remains Lac du Bonnet’s longest running school. Centennial School continues to provide elementary education, while the Senior School celebrates their 60^th anniversary this fall.

References:

W.D. Halliday, Lac du Bonnet School #1235 ledgers from LdB Historical Society Archives

Lac du Bonnet Senior High School 25^th Reunion, 1961-1986 Commemorative Book from LdBSS Archives

“Fire Destroys School.” Winnipeg Tribune, February 27, 1945.

“Brand-new School for Students at Lac du Bonnet.” Springfield Leader (Lac du Bonnet, MB), January 7, 1947.

“Lac du Bonnet School Enrollment Increases.” Springfield Leader, September 6, 1955.

“The children trooped off to school today…” Springfield Leader, September 5, 1961.

“New Collegiate Keeps Pace with the Times.” Springfield Leader, November 21, 1961.

“Lac du Bonnet Plans New School.” Springfield Leader, May 17, 1966.

“Lac du Bonnet News.” Springfield Leader, May 2, 1967.

“Large Enrollment at Elementary Schools.” Springfield Leader, September 5, 1967.

“Park Avenue students will not be moved this term.” The Leader (Lac du Bonnet, MB), January 3, 1989.

“Parking for Pioneer Club Still Unresolved.” The Leader, June 27, 1989.

“School Board briefs.” The Leader, September 26, 1989.

“Park Manor Opens.” The Leader, November 26, 1996.