From the July 9, 1980 edition of the Smoky Lake Signal

Victoria School History

In terms of the availability of school and churches, the early settlers at Victoria fared quite will. The first school house was built in the spring of 1864, a hastily assembled log shanty. It ran without an organized district or official number. Predictably the first classes were relative small as the Indians and Metis of the settlement still followed the hunt. It has been estimated that during 1864, native enrollment at the Victoria School did not exceed one quarter of the student-aged population.

In 1896 the area west of the Hudson's Bay Company reserve was surveyed by J.E. Woods, D.L.S. Although he originally intended to subdivide the land into quarter sections, local opposition, backed by the federal M.P. Frank Oliver, necessitated a redrafting of policy and he was subsequently informed to continue with the river lot system. He began his survey on October 19, 1896 and completed it, and a survey of the Lobstick settlement by the 7th of November. his final report dated December 1, 1896 confirmed that the Victoria settlement had grown considerably. Samuel Whitford was shown to have settled on river lot sixteen while William Norm and Magnus Cromarty occupied lots fourteen and twelve respectively.

In 1888 the Victoria School District No. 75 was organized and the number of registrants rose. This new school was built on Hudson's Bay Block eight south east conrer.

On September 28, 1903, notice was given in the North West Territories Gazette that the trustee of Victoria School District No. 75 were implored to borrow the sum of $550.00 for the purpose of erecting and furnishing a school and a lean to house.

While the school at Victoria provided a solid introduction to the three Rs, the school was over crowded with students due to the influx of new settlers. This was a big area and some students had to walk five or six miles almost every day during the summer months. Many of the settlers were worried about their children and decided to divide the area into two districts, namely Victora and Pakan. A meeting was held at the residence of John Kozub in January, 1918, and it was decided to move the Victoria School No. 75 near the populated centre of the district on to the S.E. corner of N.W. Section 21, Tp. 58 R 17, W4.

The following were present at the meeting: J.A. Mitchell, Secretary Treasurer; A.. Norn Chairman; Jack Whitford, Trustee; Ed Cromarty, Trustee; John Kozub; Edwin Whitford; Dick Whitford; Fred Serafinchon; Steve Cechon; Sam Elkowich; Alex Rusnak;  Andrew Poiny; N. Yakimchuk; N. Esopenko; C. Thompson and Merrit Whitford.

Consequently, this school was moved by the Whitford Brothers and their huge steam tractor to the location S.E. corner of N.W. Section 21, Tp. 58 R 17, W4, in the spring of 1919 and classes started in June. Mr. Nixon was employed as a teacher for two years.

By 1921 this little, one room was overcrowded again and a one room school was built. The little one room school remained as a teacherage. However, due to the ever-changing requirements of the enlarged population, the class enrollment soared to sixty-five pupils. In 1927 another identical room was added on to the east side. It served as the junior room. This two room school burnt down on July 7, 1943 and was rebuilt the next year. It was subsequently moved to Smoky Lake in 1952 where it served as a classroom for the H.Kostash School. This summer it will be moved to a lot behind the complex where it will house the Smoky Lake & District Museum.

When Victoria School was moved to Smoky Lake in 1952, the community activates (meetings) were held in the school teacherage, which was not very convenient. In 1960 when the teacherage was moved to Bellis, an organization called the Victoria Community Centre was organized. This organization purchased the Victora School site and the Edwand School site from the Smoky Lake division. The building served the community for meetings, socials, whist drives and bingos until 1970.

When a certain portion of the residents of the area sold their land to the Hutterite Brethren, this removed the residents and the building was not used any more. The idea of a cairn was brought up and finally became a reality.

In 1975 the school building was sold and during the summer a cairn was built. on the cairn is mounted a plaque with the map of the present Victoria School District with the names of all the homesteaders and subsequently title holders of the land. on August 10th, 1980 a list of students on a plaque will be set in and unveiled. The grounds around the cairn are enjoyed by the general public.

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