Baldur School History 

The first school built in the Baldur District was the Tiger Hills School in 1883. This school was situated two or three miles southwest of the present day Baldur.

 In 1891, with the development of the town of Baldur, it was found necessary to form a new school district, which included parts of Tiger Hills and Otenaw, and was called Simpson School District. The name Simpson was given in honour of the surveyor who obtained the school site from the Northern Pacific townsite company.

 School classes were first held in 1891, in the upper room of the building where C.W. Watson operated a saddlery shop.

 In 1892, the first school in Baldur was built, the lower room being used for school purposes and the upper room was used as a lodge room and public hall.

 In 1897, a move was taken towards the founding of an intermediate department. It was also at this time a second teacher was added. But it was not until January, 1901, that it was finally established. A third teacher was added in 1902.

 About this time, a bill relating to the centralization of schools was passed by the local legislature and created much interest throughout the province. Great efforts were made by the trustees and the principal, D.J. Hartley, to induce the rural schools to organize under the new system. Meetings were held and the scheme thoroughly explained. The great problem in the minds of those interested was the transportation of the children. No solution was found so the matter was dropped.

 In the meantime, discussion had been going on about the construction of a new school. After much voting and arbitration over the site of the new school, it was finally decided by a vote, to erect a building on the old site. As a result, in 1905, Baldur’s second school was erected. The cost of the building was $9000.00. In 1915, Simpson School District became the Baldur School District.

 After consolidation, with the increased number of students, classes were held in the basement of the old school and in the hall in 1960-61. The new elementary school opened in the fall of 1961, accommodating grades 1 through 8. The principal at this time was Sam Yaremchuk. In 1969, Welsh School was brought in and located beside the new elementary school. It was used to accommodate the new kindergarten class.

 In 1976, the old high school was condemned and a modern high school was built adjacent to the elementary school. The new facility included a gymnasium and a kindergarten room, and the gym in the elementary school was converted into a library. The first principal of the Baldur Elementary and High School was Vic Thiessen and the first vice-principal was Sam Yaremchuk.

 A cairn, with a plaque commemorating all the Argyle Schools, was erected on the site of the present Baldur School. The bell, which had been donated to Simpson School by the Hon. Thomas Greenway in 1899, forms the top of the cairn.

 We have had five principals since 1976 – Vic Thiessen, Murray Smith, Wade Watson, Bill Harding and our current principal, Randy Hanson. Each one of these men brought something unique to the school and each one improved the school in their own special ways. Another influential individual was Sam Yaremchuk. Sam was principal of the elementary school before the two schools merged and stayed on as vice principal for many years after that.

 In 1998, the Tiger Hills School Division underwent a major change, when it and the Pembina Valley School Division amalgamated into the Prairie Spirit School Division. In 2002, the Prairie Spirit School Division amalgamated with the Mountain School Division.

The school has a great many ongoing programs, which have remained popular with students and parents over the years. Around 1999, a program called “Funky Friday” was started. On certain special Fridays, in return for a one dollar donation to a worthy charity, the staff and students are allowed to dress casually, wear hats in school and chew gum. Some recipients in the past have been Killarney/Pilot Mound Food Bank, Canadian Diabetes Association, Terry Fox Foundation, UNICEF, Baldur Recreation Centre, Canadian Red Cross, Heart & Stroke Fund.

 Our students have always been very active in our community. At least once each year, the students go out and clean up the ditches and boulevards in both Baldur and Belmont. Our students are also involved in community & school beautification projects. With assistance of grants, Baldur students have planted trees & flowers on school grounds and throughout the community.

 Since 1998, a Student of the Month program has been in operation. With generous support from the Sunrise Credit Union (Baldur Branch) and Royal Bank of Canada (Glenboro Branch) we have been able to honour three deserving students each month.

 Education Highlights, which appear in the Baldur Gazette every week throughout the school year, keeps parents and the community at large informed as to the various activities going on at the school.

Artist in the School is another popular ongoing program whereby artists from all across Manitoba come out to local schools to teach various courses covering topics such as dance, drawing, sculpturing, painting and drama.

 Baldur School offers its students a full quota of sports activities as well. We have held clinics and competitions in basketball, volleyball, golf, soccer, track and field, baseball, cross country skiing, badminton, curling and cross country running. All students are encouraged to participate in any or all of the sports offered.

 We have an active Student Council and we have sent several young people over the years to such important conferences as the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa.

 We have hosted exchange students from Japan, Venezuela, Columbia, Brazil, Australia, Iceland, Germany, Yugoslavia and Mexico. Each has added a taste of international culture, language and cuisine to our school.

 We have had internet access in the school since about 1995 and over the next few years we built up a very impressive computer lab. As of 2000, we have been able to offer courses over the IITV system. We teach courses to the Hutterite Schools and our students can take courses from other schools in the division.

Information reprinted with Permission from RM of Argyle