Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Grande Prairie School District #2357 fonds |
| Reference code: | 0521 |
| Date: | 1911-1916 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 1 cm textual records |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Processed by Karen Burgess, January 2013 Added to new database December 2024 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
Grande Prairie School District No. 2357 was established by Order-in-Council on January 26, 1911, the third in the South Peace River country of Alberta after Spirit River 2109 and Beaverlodge 2341. The early years of the district were marked by conflict, financial difficulties and high teacher turn-over. The first Board of Trustees was made up of H.W. Smith, Chairman, and W.A. Rae, Secretary-Treasurer, and the first motion of business at the meeting in January was to borrow $1,200 on debenture to build and supply the school. The next meeting, six months later, included the Rev. Fr. Alac to represent the Catholic population. At that meeting they accepted an offer of 2 acres of land from George L. Bredin, and decided to build a 25 x 35 x 13 ft. schoolhouse for 40 pupils on the site, which is about where the Canada Games Arena is at present. In October 1911, a hotly contested election installed a new and larger board of trustees consisting of Alphaeus Patterson, Alexander Forbes, and JJE Clarke. Nominated but failing to win seats were JA Hughes, Alfred Gladu, and IV Macklin. Because of delays in obtaining lumber for the school in a “boom” economy, and difficulty in finding a qualified teacher, the school did not open till January 1913. There were then 13 students. The first teacher was IV Macklin, followed by Roy Chapman, Alice Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Whitfield and DH Axon in quick succession. In 1916, a temporary high school (built like a store building for re-sale value) opened on the same site. By then, the district had attained stability, and they were planning for the large new brick school which they would name Montrose.
Custodial history
The records were copies kept by original board member, Alphaeus Patterson, and then by son J.O. Patterson, preserved by Violet Patterson and donated to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2011 by her son Bob Patterson.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of the original carbon copies of the minutes of Grande Prairie School District 2357 from January 29, 1911 to July 28, 1916. The minutes include motions, decisions, discussions, financial accounts, and election results.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Education (subject)