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Duclos School
The
Girls' Home
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In his plans, Rev. Dr.
Duclos had provided for special attention to the young people
in the field of education. In the early years, he and Mrs.
Duclos had set up evening classes for young people in the
hospital building.
However, a more pressing problem was the fact that most
of the children of the congregation resided at long distances
from the district school. As a result, during the extremely
cold spells and storms of winter, the children missed many
days of school.
The
Boys' Home
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In 1920, in order to solve
that problem, Rev. Duclos rented two houses in Edmonton
as residences, one for the girls and one for the boys. Then,
by arrangement with the City Public School system, the children
were given the opportunity of having regular schooling each
year from September to June.
This arrangement worked very well and lasted until 1928,
but it was not a perfect solution, for the children were
separated from their parents for ten months of the year
and were absent when they were most needed at seeding time
and at harvest.
Therefore, in 1928, in order to remedy that situation, Rev.
Duclos founded Duclos School, located next to, and north
of the present Duclos Hospital. It was established under
the Provincial Department of Education's administration,
supervision and general grants, and it was known as Duclos
Protestant Separate School District No. 2.
In connection with the school, two residences were provided
for boarding pupils who lived too far from school, or pupils
from outlying districts where no schools were in operation,
or indeed, for any children in need of a home and school.
The girls' residence, situated immediately north of the
present site of Duclos Hospital, was a renovated former
general store to which a third storey was added. On the
ground floor of that building was the space provided for
the one room, Grades I to VIII Duclos School. The large
front windows are still to be seen in place.
The boys' residence, situated across the road from the girls'
residence that contained the school room, was the renovated
former Empire Hotel with a third floor added on.
Needless to say that the fees charged for boarding at the
residences were based on the means of the parents, and some
were known to be unable to pay.
The Women's Missionary Society (W.M.S.) of the United Church
of Canada provided :
- The funds for the purchase and renovations of the
two residences
- The finances for the operation of the two residences
through the years
- An annual grant of $500.00 to the Board of Trustees
of Duclos School, to pay for the education of the pupils
in residence who did not belong to the Duclos School
District.
| Pupils
and Staff of Duclos School, 1934 |
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The school proper was opened
on January 21st, 1929, with Henri Edmond Bourgoin, B.A.,
as teacher. He was to remain in that position for 20 years.
The first year, there were 35 pupils enrolled, 22 of whom
belonged to the Duclos School District. That same year,
the school trustees were Messrs. Fabien Vézeau, Lucien
Séguin, Jos. Blais, and Jos. Séguin.
In 1948, H. E. Bourgoin resigned his position in order to
accept a call to Glendon School. The teachers that followed
were the Misses Grace Eleanore King, (1948 49), V.L. Simmerman
(1949 50), Betty Hope Porter (1950 51), Evelyn Greig Buchanan
(1951 53). Others unknown.
With the expanding school system in the province and the
coming of the school bus, the need of boarding schools came
to an end; so Duclos P.S.S.D. #2 amalgamated with the Bonnyville
School Division #46. The Divisional Board built a new Duclos
School right in town this time. It was a modern 11 room
structure with library, science laboratory, office, Staff
room and large gymnasium. It was officially opened in February
1960 with a staff of 11 teachers and an enrolment of 230
students..
Young
dancers at Duclos School, ready to perform the Irish
Lilt, 1946
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A new era had opened its doors,
offering greater opportunities. Nevertheless, the great
good that came out of the old institution will never be
told; the sweetness of its atmosphere, the light of its
teachings, the lasting warmth of friendships begun are ineffable
treasures that can never be calculated in dollars and cents. |
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