A Collegiate for the Suburbs “Bowman Collegiate Institute” School Progress
Vol. 36, No. 5; Oct.-Nov. p. 38-39 The urgent need for a new high school centered in the rapidly expanding suburb of Nutana, to the south of the city, was recognized by the Collegiate Board in 1955, and the architects were appointed at the end of that year with instructions to undertake research into all aspects of school planning and modern methods of construction in order to design a building needing little maintenance, speedy to erect, economic to light and heat, and capable of enlargement in the near future as and when indicated by the continuing growth of this suburb.
This building is planned to accommodate 600 students initially, with a planned 16-room continuation of the two-storey wing in the near future, giving a total accommodation at that time in excess of 1,000 students.
The school includes 14 classrooms, a typing instruction room, laboratories for chemistry, biology and junior science, and with a separate demonstration room capable of use as ordinary classrooms, and a physics laboratory. A Household Science suite contains sewing and fitting rooms and a cooking laboratory divided into five kitchen alcoves and a type of living room.
For extra-curricular activities of student committees a student workroom has been incorporated adjacent to the art room, in which it is suggested that school magazines, display posters and small discussion groups could well be undertaken.
The administration block of Principal’s offices, General, and Students’ Counselling offices open off the main entrance foyer, with separate and mixed staff common rooms opposite.
Away from the administration block on the upper floor where less interruptions will occur, is located the Vice principals’ Planning office where examination papers can be prepared and marked, and the school classes can be planned, staff interviewed, etc. A large windowless library at the end of the south wing contains a small librarian’s work room and a conference room. Day lighting is by means of plastic roof light, thus leaving all walls free for the installation of book shelves.
The gymnasium-auditorium is lighted in a similar manner and may be divided into two smaller gymnasia by means of electrically operated folding partitions. The fully equipped stge and adjacent music and rehearsal rooms will be in use not only by school drama groups but in evenings by local drama wings closed off at night, leaving a central nucleus of auditorium, changing rooms, washrooms, rehearsal rooms and main entrance only open for evening activities. A small ticket office is located next to the main entrance.
The contract was awarded in March, 1957 on the lowest tender of $964,777.00 which approximates $15.95 per square foot floor area, or 88 ½ cents per cubic foot. Work on site was started May 1st, 1957 and at the time of writing this article all foundations and footings are complete, all structural steel-work in place, about 80% brickwork erected, and the steel deck rood and windows are scheduled for installation shortly.
The building will therefore be completely closed in before winter, and work may carry on internally to bring the school to completion on the scheduled date of August 1st, 1958, ready of occupancy in the new fall term.
From Sagittarius 1958-83 Silver Anniversary Yearbook, Pages 6 & 7
*************************************************
™ Mr. Aden Bowman
Mr. Aden Bowman was born near Yale, Michigan on February 3, 1888. Here he was educated until the age of fourteen, when he moved to Saskatchewan.
Two years later Mr. Bowman opened a shop where he repaired, rented and sold bicycles. Eventually his brothers had joined him the business starting a company called Bowman Brothers. The company expanded to include other vehicles and appliances. At the age of twenty-two, he married and his family grew to include a daughter and three sons.
Mr. Bowman is credited for many achievements in Saskatoon. He was a member of several community service boards as well as being a city Alderman for twelve years. The position of Chairman of the High School Board was filled by Mr. Bowman for fourteen years.
He died on May 17, 1957 after an illness which lasted three months. Mr. Bowman was a great leader and we are proud to have our school named after such a man. His philosophy is reflected in the following passage:
“Through good years and through lean years, through periods of plenty and through periods of depression – come what may – the house of Bowman assumes its responsibility of leadership and will continue the tradition of service and integrity of its founders.”
Mr. Bowman followed these words for his life and business.
***********************************************
Opening Ceremonies
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, October 18th, 1958
Aden Bowman Collegiate was officially opened Friday night, with provincial and civic officials present and Mrs. Bowman, widow of Aden Bowman, after whom the collegiate was named, taking part in the ceremonies. Mrs. Bowman is an alderman and Aden Bowman had served as an alderman and also for more than twenty years as a member of the collegiate board.
The Aden Bowman Collegiate auditorium, brightly bedecked with flowers and decorations and packed with almost five hundred persons, Friday night was the scene of a round of ceremonies involving education and civic officials that officially opened the new school to the public.
Ald. Mrs. Lillie Bowman, widow of the late Aden Bowman, whose name is honored by the new collegiate, descended from a decorated stage at approximately 8:30 with Collegiate Board Chairman P.H. Maguire, to cut the ribbon stretched across the door leading to the auditorium officially opening the school doors.
In the dedication, Mr. Maguire spoke of the late Aden Bowman as a former citizen “most esteemed”, that it was fitting that his name and memory be honoured in that particular way after the many contributions to Saskatoon’s educational syste m, contributions that had arisen out of honesty, sincerity, and unstinting efforts.
“May this school play an essential part in the development of our free and democratic way of life,” Mr. Maguire said.
“I am deeply touched by the tribute you have all paid to Aden on this memorable occasion,” Mrs. Bowman said before cutting the ribbon. She expressed “an earnest hope and desire that those who will study within these walls will be as honest, sincere, and fine as the man for whom this school is named.”
“I declare this collegiate officially open to the public of Saskatoon,” were Mrs. Bowman’s words as she severed the ribbon.
**********************************************™
|
|
HOUSE of BONNEY - George A. Bonney Mr. Bonney received his teacher training with a major in classics at Liverpool University. He moved to Manitoba in 1933 where he taught for three years.
In the fall of 1914, he came to Saskatoon to teach at the then four-year old Saskatoon Collegiate which was renamed “Nutana” in 1923. He left that school to do post-graduate work in Chicago in 1918. He returned to Nutana as Vice-Principal in 1923 and later became its Principal in 1937.
He had great pride in his teaching and the collegiate making it one of the ourstanding academic institutions in the province at that time.
HOUSE of McKINNON – John L. McKinnon
John McKinnon was born near Priceville, Ontario. While in this province he received his early academic and professional training. After three years of teaching, he entered Queens University graduating in 1915 with first class honours in history. Mr. McKinnon came to Saskatoon in 1917 when he joined the staff at Nutana Collegiate. In 1923, he was transferred to Bedford Road as head of the history department and in 1931 was appointed Vice-Principal of the new Technical Collegiate. He stayed there until his appointment as Principal of City Park in1951.
HOUSE of OULTON - Charles A. Oulton
Mr. Oulton was born in Lorneville, Nova Scotia and received his early education there. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Mount Allison University. Mr. Oulton then attended Harvard University and graduated with an A.M. in Mathematics.
He taught physics and mathematics at several locations in Canada. His last school before being appointed Superintendent of Saskatoon Public Schools was Nutana Collegiate.
Mr. Oulton had a distinguished career as a Rotarian. He was appointed President of the Saskatoon Rotary Club and after attending conventions of Rotary International all over the world he was nominated for Director of Rotary International, representing Canada for the years 1940-41.
HOUSE of SEELEY - Clinton Seeley
After graduating from Queen’s University, Mr. Seeley taught in rural schools in Saskatchewan from 1909 to 1912. In December of 1912, he moved to Saskatoon where he was appointed principal of Albert School in 1913. Later that year, he accepted a position at Saskatoon Collegiate which is now known as Nutana.
Nine years later, he was asked to stand for election and was successful in becoming a member of the High School Board. In 1921, he made another career move to teach at the Normal School, as the teacher training college was then called, where he eventually served as principal.
Through the influence he had on the training of teachers, his impact on education in Saskatoon was extensive. He particularly stressed that teachers should work from a sound base of knowledge but with flexibility and humanity.
|
