ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥

The ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ grew out of three different legacy divisions: the St. Vital, St. Boniface and Norwood School Divisions. In a broad sense, the creation of ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ began in 1998 with the voluntary amalgamation of the Norwood School Division and the St. Boniface School Division. 

Four years later, the ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ was established when Manitoba's premier at the time, Gary Doer, directed a number of school divisions - rural and urban - to amalgamate. This brought together the new St. Boniface School Division with the St. Vital School Division. The new division was named the ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ on February 5, 2002, and officially amalgamated on July 19 of the same year.

Important Dates

The following are a few key events that have shaped the ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ over its twenty years of history. 

Creation of ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥

• November 8, 2001: Minister Drew Caldwell announces that the St. Boniface and St. Vital School Divisions be amalgamated.
• February 5, 2002: "Divison scolaire ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥" (DSLR, ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥) is chosen as the name of the new school division.
• July 19, 2002: Amalgamation of the St. Vital and St. Boniface School Divisions
• October 22, 2002: Creation of the first ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ board of nine trustees following the civic elections.
• March 2003: School Board adopts the operating procedures and policies for the new school division.

Growth and Change

2004-2005

• November 2004: School Board adopts ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥'s Statements of Mission and Vision and the ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ motto (2004-2018)
• January 2005: School Board hires a social research company, , to identify the strengths of existing programs and services, and to suggest improvements
• May 31, 2005: Initiation of a study on overcrowding at Island Lakes Community School, eventually leading to the school's expansion

2005-2006

• September 2005: It's All About Me partnership with the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre begins
• January 2006: School Board considers the findings and recommendation of the Student Services Review.  

2006-2007

• Opening of the Legacy Conference Centre
• September 2006: Implementation of a divisional framework for assessment, evaluation, and reporting (AER) after a one-year pilot in eight schools
• September 2006: Introduction of ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥'s Middle French Immersion Program in Grade 4 at École Julie-Riel

2007-2008

• September 2007: Creation of the Clinical Services Unit (CSU)
• October 30, 2007: Official opening of the René Deleurme Centre 

2008-2009

• September 2008: Implementation of the French Immersion program at École Provencher
• September 2008: Beginning of the transition for all Grade 9 students from elementary schools to high schools

2009-2010

• September, 2009: Implementation of ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥'s Social-Emotional Learning Framework (SELF)
• November, 2009: Survey on the division's Vision and Mission

2010-2011

• September 2010: Beginning of ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥'s multi-year literacy and numeracy focus

2011-2012

• December 20, 2011: The School Board adopts the Policy AC-1-2

2012-2013

• Implementation of the division's three priorities to guide Student Learning in ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥
• April 24, 2013: Province approves the construction of an Early Learning to Grade 8 school in Sage Creek to serve ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ families

2013-2014

• January, 2014: After several community meetings, the School Board voted to repurpose George McDowell School as a 6-8 middle years French Immersion school to alleviate over-population in South St. Vital French Immersion elementary schools
• April, 2014: After several community meetings, the School Board voted in favour of a school building exchange between Hastings School and École Marie-Anne-Gaboury, to alleviate population pressures in the latter
• June 17, 2014: After a year of conversations, meetings and collaboration, the School Board approved the

• Nelson McIntyre Collegiate begins program as an incubator for project-based learning in all schools in ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥. 
• École Van Belleghem begins transition to a K - 8 school to help continue building capacity at and within our French Immersion community.
• RIEL-EVATE Foundation is introduced, providing school community support across ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥. 
• School Board at , , and . 
• Division continues consolidating on-going journey to develop Indigenous Education programming.
• February 2016: New Special Needs Initiative is announced to begin for the 2016-2017 school year.
• June 13, 2016: Division hosts its first Graduation Powwow at Dakota Collegiate.

2016-2017

• Division welcomes Elder Jules Lavallee as Elder in Residence and as Indigenous Scholar in Residence.
• November 2016: Division students create Blanket of Remembrance containing thousands of hand-made poppies for Remembrance Day.
• January 2017: Division hosts two French Immersion forums with the goal of finding sustainable solutions to overcrowding in the Division.
• Division offers Immigrant Teacher Education Program (ITEP) for internationally trained teachers that are new to Canada and looking for employment opportunities.
• June 20, 2017: Division signs .
• Board invests in significant updates and improvements to facilities.
• The in 8 schools discontinued student specific funding applications and forged a new model to support students with special/additional.

2017-2018

• August 2017: Provincial government announces that will be added to École Guyot to accommodate growth in French Immersion.
• September 2017: École Sage Creek School (K-8) opens.
• The reimagines a new model to support students with special/additional in all 40 schools.
• Division launches website portal with Treaty Education resources.
• ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥ launches its first Powwow Club!
• Division reviews Safe Routes to School planning.
• May 2018: École Sage Creek School Community Update provides parents with information about managing growth and overcrowding at the school in the 2019-2020 school year and beyond.
• As part of the initiative to reimagine the René Deleurme Centre's mandate, the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg partners with a second school in the ÌðÐÄÖ±²¥.
• June 2018: Collège Jeanne-Sauvé officially breaks ground on important updates and expansions.

Our Legacy

Our Name

The historical figure from which our Division draws its name, , grounds our Division in Manitoba's tradition, culture, and history; however, and in keeping with this visionary figure, we strive for progress and innovation. The name for our Division emerged from several suggestions provided by the residents of both communities.