Windsor Park Collegiate, Winnipeg

Windsor Park Collegiate
Address
1015 Cottonwood Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 1G3
Canada
Coordinates 49°51′42″N 97°04′28″W / 49.8617°N 97.0744°W / 49.8617; -97.0744Coordinates: 49°51′42″N 97°04′28″W / 49.8617°N 97.0744°W / 49.8617; -97.0744
Information
School type Public, Secondary school
Motto Classical: Wisdom Patience Courage
Traditional: Where Pride Counts
Founded 1960
School board Louis Riel School Division
Superintendent Duane Brothers
Principal Marilyn Thorington
Staff 38 Teachers, 36 Support Staff
Grades Grades 9–12
Enrollment 510 (2009)
Language English/Français Partiel
Area Windsor Park
Colour(s) Black and Yellow         
Mascot The Duke of Windsor A.K.A. The Duke (Willy P. Cat)
Team name Royals
Website www.lrsd.net/schools/WPC/
Last updated: February 15, 2010

Windsor Park Collegiate (WPC) is a public secondary school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, within the Louis Riel School Division.

History

"In the year of nineteen hundred and sixty, in the community of Windsor Park, there opened a school that became a legend. Only one other school in North America had this unique hexagonal architecture. The first principal of the school, Windsor Park Collegiate, was Mr. D. M. Slater, and the faculty population was 27. The first school President was R. D. McClelland. The school had a population of 619, ranging from Grade 7 to Grade 12. 93 of the students were graduating that year." Taken from the 1978 Yearbook

Currently, Windsor Park Collegiate is a Grade 9 to Grade 12 school serving 490 students. Its 34 teachers and 40 support staff strive to maintain an environment that promotes student learning. The school offers an English Language Program.

Architecture

The building was designed by local Winnipeg firm 'Green Blankstein Russell', and construction began in 1959.[1] The design is notable for its use of multiple two-storey hexagonal pods joined by hallways. The only other school know to feature the "unique hexagonal architecture" is Donald D. Lum Elementary School in Alameda, California, which opened in 1961. A larger gym, designed by firm 'Duncan Rattray Peters Searle' was later added in 1969.

Windsor Park Collegiate was built during the cold war, and rumors of a large bomb shelter in the foundation of the school have been propagated by students, staff and alumni for decades. Despite the school being constructed with a large, open area in its foundation, there is no evidence that it was ever designed as any sort of bomb shelter.[2] This unused underground space is accessible though a crawlspace near the former basement cafeteria, and a door near the main gym changing rooms.

Special Needs Program

WPC has the largest secondary school Special Needs program in the Louis Riel School Division. It is technically termed the Co-op Education Program and the Skills for Living Program. This program works with integration into standard classes, as well as work experience and life skills training.

Bistro in the Park

In 1999, the program opened up Crackers The Bistro, a full-service restaurant that was open to the public for lunch 5 days a week. Here they train and "employ" exclusively the students who are in the Occupational Skills Program within the Louis Riel School Division. It is located in a residential strip mall very close to WPC. The program was a great success in reaching its goals, but is still operated largely off donations and public funding. In 1999 this program won the Manitoba School Board Innovation Award.[3] As of July 2006 the restaurant was renamed Bistro in the Park.[4]

50th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion

A 50th anniversary celebration and reunion was held on May 13–14, 2011. Many past students and staff attended the two-day celebration. A "Hall of Honour" was established and three people were inducted at the Gala Dinner. Butch Goring, Jennifer Jones and Evelyn Jacks.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Winnipeg Architecture Foundation - 1015 Cottonwood road". Winnipeg Architecture Foundation. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Mythbusting at Windsor Park Collegiate". The Lance. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.bigdatabase.ca/big-html/nonsecure/resources/success/success-crackers.html
  4. ↑ http://www.lrsd.net/Administration/Boardroom/Minutes/Minutes06June2006.htm
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