Lord Selkirk School Division

The Lord Selkirk School Division was created in 1959, bringing together schools in Selkirk and surrounding communities. In 1967, the Lord Selkirk School Division was given jurisdiction for education from kindergarten to grade 12. Today, the Lord Selkirk School Division serves students through 15 schools across the region.

The Selkirk School District was created in December 1878. In 1882, when Selkirk was incorporated as a town, there was one school. It was a small log school that held classes by day and hosted events and city council meetings by evening. William Gibbs, the beloved baker in Selkirk, was elected to be the first member of the school board for the Selkirk School District.

There were many schools in the area since most communities had a small school. In 1959 it was put to a vote if Selkirk and the surrounding areas should unite their schools to form a school division. There were many articles and petitions published in newspapers to convince people of the merit of a school division.

The Lord Selkirk School Division No. 11 was created on April 1, 1959. The School Division was responsible for all secondary education (grades 9-12) in the area. Younger grades would continue to operate independently from the School Division.

The first Board members for the Lord Selkirk School Division were: Andrew Smith – Chairman, W.E. Schick – Vice-Chairman, Stan Schofield, Lorne Linklater, Michael Gusnowsky, Fred Gibbs, Walter Whyte, and Eileen Bryce.

Within the School Division there were 5 wards (geographical areas). Ward 1-4 had one trustee per ward. Ward 5, which included Selkirk, had three trustees. Within the wards there were school districts. Some school districts had only one school, but other districts had multiple schools.

Ward 1

Earl Grey School District No. 1527: one school, 1910-1967.
Lockport School District No. 6: multiple schools, 1871-1967.
Mapleton School District No. 5: opened in 1871 and was composed of two schools. One has closed but the other remains part of the School Division.
Rossdale School District No. 956: one school, 1898 to mid-1960s.
St. Andrew School District No. 2: multiple schools, 1871-1967.

Ward 2

Armistice School District No. 2043: one school, 1920-1967.
Clandeboye School District No. 47: one school, began in 1878 and became part of the School Division.
Cloverdale School District No. 577: multiple schools, 1889-1967.
Dunara School District No. 1203: one school, 1902-1967.
Fillmore School District No. 2170: one school, 1927-1963.
Hartley School District No. 878: one school, 1896-1967.
Meadowdale School District No. 955: one school, 1898-1965.
Netley Lake School District No. 775: one school, 1893-circa 1950s.
Norwood School District No. 642: one school, 1890-1967.
Peguis School District No. 1426: two schools, 1907-1967.
Petersfield School District No. 533: one school, 1888-1967.

Ward 3

Arnhold School District No. 1618: one school, 1912-1947.
Poplar Park School District No. 545: one school, 1888-1966.
Balsam Bay School District No. 859: one school, 1895-1966.
Beaconia School District No. 2162: one school, 1927-1966.
Belair School District No. 2165: one school, 1927-1967.
Brookside School District No. 1546: one school, 1910-1966.
Dunlop School District No. 2150: one school, 1926-1966.
Libau School District No. 1231: two schools, 1903-1967.
Grand Marais School District No. 1825: multiple schools, started in 1916. One school became part of School Division and closed 1969.
Hillside Beach School District No. 1980: one school, 1919-1967.
Hoey School District No. 2173
Sheffield School District No. 1976: one school, 1919-1967.
Stony Point School District No. 2077: one school, 1921-1967.
Victoria Beach School District No. 1811: one school, started in 1915, became part of School Division and closed 1969.

Ward 4

Ashfield School District No. 428: one school, 1885-1965.
Gonor School District No. 1070: one school, 1901-1965.
Happy Thought School District No. 1452: one school, started in 1912 and continued to operate as part of the School Division.
Highland School District No. 1628: one school, 1912-1966.
Kitchener School District No. 1076
Lilydale School District No. 1285
Mayfield School District No. 1473: one school, 1908-1966.
Patapun School District No. 1636

Ward 5

Selkirk School District No. 69 started in 1878 and was composed of multiple schools. These schools became part of the School Division.

On February 15^th, 1967, the Lord Selkirk School Division was given jurisdiction over all education (kindergarten to Grade 12) in the 5 wards. The 40 school districts were dissolved, and many schools closed.

In 1970 the Division reported the impact of including elementary grades. Overall, they thought the education was better, but the budget remained tight. At that time the Division had 5100 students in a 465 square mile radius, with 243 education staff and 13 schools.

In 1970 Brokenhead Ojibway Nation asked to be included in Division. This change came into effect January 1st, 1971.

Today the Division includes 15 schools from Selkirk, Lockport, St. Andrews, Clandeboye, Petersfield, Libau, Grand Marais, and Victoria Beach. They offer French Immersion and Ukrainian Immersion.

Lord Selkirk School Division Collection

Click on images to enlarge

Selkirk Central School, c1910, Manitoba Historical Society
Notice of Referendum, 1959, Selkirk Enterprise
Lord Selkirk School Division Ward Boundaries, 1959, Selkirk Enterprise
Lockport School, 1970, Archives of Manitoba
The Original Dunara School Building by H. D. Cumming, Date Unknown, Archives of Manitoba
Hillside Beach School by J. E. S. Dunlop, Date Unknown, Archives of Manitoba
The Original Mayfield School by J. E. S. Dunlop, Date Unknown, Archives of Manitoba