Walter Whyte School

Before the province introduced the forming of school divisions, the area lying north of the Brokenhead Indian Reserve to Victoria Beach consisted of eight schools all under the Dept. of Education, and the responsibility of the appointed “Official Trustees”. These schools were situated about five to seven miles apart, with no transportation: Stony Point, Beaconia, Balsam Bay, Grand Marais, Dunlop, Hillside, Belair and Victoria Beach.

Two of the schools, Grand Marais and Victoria B each offered from Crades I to 11, with two teachers and Wobet WhJte Collegiate. finally three teachers in each school. The other six schools taught Grades 1 to 8. Any student wishing to further their education could do so by enrolling in a correspondence course, but could still attend their own
school.

With the forming of school divisions within the province, the school (Walter Whyte) also formed, included only students from Grade 9 to 12.

A number of public meetings were held within the area and the parerts along with the Trustee, Walter Whyte, came to the decision to build a four room school in the
most central part of the area. This school would serve those wishing to attend Grades 9 to I l. Anyone wishing to take Grade 12, could do so, and the school Board would subsidize their living allowance at any school of their choice, within the Province of Manitoba.

With the approval of the Dept. of Education and local authority the school Board purchased 6 acres of land in 1960, free of costs, in the LGD of Alexander. The school
was under construction by June of 1960, and opened for classes in the fall term of the same year.

With the opening of school, two school buses were necessary to provide transportation for all the students from Grades 9 to I l, within the area.

The school was proudly named the “walter Whyte Collegiate” and was fully modern boasting of hydro, indoor plumbing and heating.

The Belaire School was moved to the site and with renovations and some modernization soon became the Walter Whyte Teacherage.

When the Lord Selkirk School Division was formed in 1967 it was decided that the walter Whyte Collegiate should eventually cease its operation as a Grade nine to
eleven institution, With many meetings and much discussion, it was decided to consolidate the 8 schools into Walter whyte and that it should become a Kindergarten
to Crade 9 school within the boundaries of the Lord Selkirk School Division No. I 1.

The 4-room school was enlarged by adding another 9 rooms. The old portion became a Kindergarten Room, two rooms were knocked down to make one large multipurpose area, with the 4th room becoming the large change room with showers off the Gymnasium. There were 9 other rooms added, making it a most modern and up to date school.

The school had a gala opening in 1970 with all the surrounding communities taking part. When Tony Miller became Principal of the new Walter Whyte School, the teacherage was enlarged by the addition of a mobile hut to accommodate his family

The next Principal was Terry Dann and in 1982 he was replaced by Bob Jefferson, as Principal. Mr. Jefferson spends part time in the teacherage and the rest of the time
commuting to his home in Selkirk. Mr. Tony Miller transferred to Mapleton School and Terry Dann to the new Lockport School. Mr. Jefferson had been at Happy Thought School in East Selkirk as Vice-Principal before taking over the responsibility of Walter Whyte.

The Walter Whyte School underwent some beautifying in 1982/83 with the addition of shrubs, trees and flowers to enhance the landscaping, The exterior received a fresh appearance with the application of paint.

The Scanterbury School burned to the ground in 1982, and the Band agreed to have their Kindergarten to Crade 3 students bussed to Walter Whyte. Their teacher, Charlene Fox, made the move with them and they are comfortably relocated until such time as the Band rebuilds another school on the Reserve. The other children of Brokenhead Indian Reserve, Crades 4 to 9 are bussed to Happy Thought in East Selkirk while those
wishing to attend High School (Grades 10 to 12) are bussed into the Regional School in the Town of Selkirk. Walter Whyte students also are bussed to Selkirk for their higher learning, industrial arts, swimming and intramural participation.

Walter Whyte is an excellent school that services the northern part of the Lord Selkirk School Division No. 11. It is a most integral part of the educational system and much of its boundary contains some of the most beautiful seasonal re\orl area in the province.

Submitted by slh/Walter White.

Posted in Schools.