St. James Collegiate has continued into a new century. The century has been defined by 911 and COVID. This story revives a few recent SJCI memories.
In 2013 with the help of a land transfer from Bourkevale Community Club a track was constructed south of the original Portage Avenue building. In 2013, SJCI hosted a public meeting on traffic safety after a serious accident at the corner of Portage and Ferry. The west end of the original 1951 Portage Avenue School was damaged by fire just before Christmas 2021.
A couple of teachers deserve mentioning. As a player, Tina Nikitas represented Manitoba in hockey (the Aces) and soccer (Team Manitoba). Tina taught at SJCI and coached the SJCI Girls Hockey Team. After Tina’s passing at the age of 30, Robyn Goodwin, an SJCI player, organized several hockey tournaments to raise money for cancer research.
Ashley Van Aggelen, the head of the SJCI Physical Education department has spent the last decade and a half at SJCI. Ashley coaches a variety of teams. Ashley is the longtime coach of the Females under 18 Hockey Avros. In 2023-24 Tara Tuchscherer, a humanities teacher, received a Manitoba Excellence in Education Award
Several SJCI athletes excelled. Nash Bockstall won three consecutive (2015-17) St. James Athletes of the Year awards. Nash excelled in volleyball, basketball, and badminton. Briana Ehrmantrault was the 2017 Junior Athlete of the Year. Briana played volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and field, and handball. After graduating from SJCI, Briana won two consecutive Women’s Athlete of the Year awards at the Canadian Mennonite University.
Tiffany Ortega was the February 2022 Urban Athlete of the Week after leading the Jimmies Varsity Girls Basketball team to a victory in the Stonewall Invitational Tournament.
In 2020, SJCI Julia Raposa, then a recent SJCI graduate, and her mother, Jennifer Raposa, were teammates on the Winnipeg Wolf Pack of the Western Woman’s Canadian Football League. Julia and Jennifer may be the only two-generation teammates on any football team.
In 2016, Trixie Maybituin received awards from the St. James Assiniboia School Division and the Optimist club for her volunteer work, Trixie organized various school activities including dances, fund raisers, a 30-hour famine, and a haunted house. In 2021 Altea Manzano, Angelynne Cusodio, Zia Dacara, Julia Lucier, and Hailey Roberts won Manitoba Council of International Co-operation awards for their research on social issues.
In 2020, Adrien Sala presented Grade 12 student Camryn Malixix with a St. James Aspiring Artist Award. In 2016, Bea Requerne and Hillary Cuthbert won medals in a Skills Manitoba competition for hairstyling. Tony Scarpino was the teacher.
Many students have attended both Brooklands School and SJCI. I found an interesting 2013 archive about interaction between the two schools. SJCI students, Monica Sarell, Sierra Betker, and Patricia Bulos made pancakes and read books to Erel Cabaguio and other future SJCIers.
Educators Adam Lister, Brooklands teacher Kim Johnston-Rempel, and Rex Ferguson Baird, helped organize the event. Rex had been the Vice Principal of SJCI prior to becoming the Principal of Brooklands School. During his 14 years as Brooklands Principal, Rex was a driving force in the upgrading of the school grounds surrounding Brooklands School.
In 2020, Rex won the Distinguished Principal of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Principals I found a very touching archive about a group of seven Grade 12 girls regularly getting together to socialize as they prepared to graduate in 2016. The group includes Jordana Kilgour who has complex medical issues.
Outside guests included the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra which performed a concert, Michael Champagne, and speaker Austin Gauthier from the Live Different Movement.
Several SJCIers of this recent era have left us far too early. In April 2009, Jessica Bodnar, a grade 12 student, became critically ill. After an extended hospital stay, Jessica attended her June 26, 2009, graduation. Sadly, Jessica died two years later while awaiting a heart transplant. In 2010, Jewan Kim, a recent immigrant from Korea, was killed along with his brother and mother in a car accident.
On October 30, 2016, Marlene Komus, age 26, was killed in a tragic car accident. Marlene had attended SJCI in the early 2000s. Marlene became the News Director of Radio 610 Thompson. At the time of her passing, she was an account executive with Canstar. In 2023, Phoenix Thompson, a 15-year-old student, was tragically murdered near SJCI.
During COVID, Lorelei Steffler was the principal. Erel Cabaguio, a 2020 graduating student, is quoted in a Winnipeg Free Press story. “This year was unforgettable. We are part of history.”
During recent years, service dogs providing emotional support for students have become part of the hallways of SJCI and George Waters Middle School. English Teacher Garet Coates, Guidance Counsellor Myriane Orloff, and Head Secretary Robyn King have championed this program, Congratulations to the dogs, Charlie, Daisy, and Lucy for their contribution to SJCI.
In 2006, the Winnipeg Arena was demolished. Scott Templeton, a 2014 SJCI Grad, became a teacher. Scott has a fascination with Lego. In the fall of 2022, Scott, using Lego, released his recreation of the Winnipeg Arena. The details were very precise, including a unique design of the men’s washroom.
The student presidents, starting in 2000, have been Michelle Stone, Gavin Johnstone, Kim Penner, Jeff Foster, Amanda Medeiros, Crystal Galapon, Kristie Pedrosa, Rita Gordon, Holly Hunter (a current St. James Assiniboia school Trustee), Stacey Mikolayanko, Bahija Zeid, Brendan Gali, Alex Olson, Scott Templeton, Chris Lansang, Vanessa McKay, Trixie Maybituin, Amalie Herath, Nica Torres, Lea Veronica Cumlat, Chellan Ramirez, Altea Manzano, Bryn Siemens, Alexa Caymo, Julinna Cases, Ashela Lula, and Ashlyn L (not sure of the last name).
Question Period about the 1950s Story
When were the first classes held in the Portage Avenue St. James Collegiate building?
Answer:
On Tuesday September 4, 1951, more than 400 pupils attended classes in 8 rooms on the main floor, and 4 rooms on the second floor. The building was still under construction. (source Page 3 the September 4, 1951 Winnipeg Free Press evening paper)
Future Project
As we prepare for the 2051 100th Anniversary of Portage Avenue SJCI, I am going to start collecting names of SJCI students and staff who live to be 100. Please send me any names and a few details to fredmorris@hotmail.com.
Fred Morris is a Grandfather, Sports Fan and Political Activist.