Ahuntsic School opened as a Protestant School Commission elementary school in 1922; it was built the previous year
On Sept. 3, 2023, I received a message through the Preserved Stories website asking if I knew when Ahuntsic Elementary School, which we’ve spoken about previously at this website, was opened.
Documentation regarding opening of Ahuntsic School. Source: Montreal Past and Present Facebook group
I could not find the information using a Google search. I decided to leave a message at the Montreal Past and Present Facebook group. I am pleased to say that, from a message at the latter Facebook group, I learned the following details from a brief article in The Gazette of Sept. 2, 1922:
Two hundred pupils will be accommodated at the Ahuntsic School, 6101 St. Lawrence Boulevard. This school is opened under the auspices of the Protestant School Commission, due to the annexation of this territory from the School Commission of Sault au Recollet. The building is only a year old. With the taking over of this school, the protestant School Commission now has jurisdiction over all the Protestant schools within the limits of the city of Montreal.
I’m reminded of what we’ve shared previously about Cartierville School:
Adding to our stories about Cartierville School: we have an Honour Card from 1924
As part of my quest to answer the question about the opening date, contacted a former student from Ahuntsic School, Barbara Sayfy (MCHS 1970). I am pleased to post the following comments (having received permission from Barbara Sayfy) outlining details about the school:
As my family lived in Ahuntsic (a lovely community in north end of Montreal) within walking distance to Ahuntsic Elementary School, that was my elementary school until grade 6. My older brother who is 2 1/2 years older than me went there as well. Then we moved to New Bourdeaux and I went to Glencoe Elementary for Grade 7 (then onwards to MCHS for grades 8 to 11 inclusive). I graduated from MCHS in 1970. I started at Ahuntsic in kindergarten – year 1959 – and my older brother would have started there in 1956.
The one thing I do recall is that when we had recess there were two separate playground areas – one for the girls and the other for the boys. We were not allowed to mingle during recess even though our classrooms were co-ed. How strange to think back then in the early 60’s this was their policy. I ended Grade 6 there in 1965. I do recall that Ahuntsic was a large school and took up the majority of the corner situated at Henri-Bourassa and St. Laurent Blvd.
I am most thankful that the Montreal Past and Present Facebook group has enabled me to track down the information about when the school was opened. We owe many thanks as well for Barbara Sayfy for the details from years ago that she has shared with us.
Previous posts about Ahuntsic neighbourhood
Click here for previous posts about the Ahuntsic neighbourhood >
First Row (left to right)
Leila Zogbi, Emily, Mrs. Mayberry – Principal, Allister High, Audrey McHafferie, Mrs. Kathleen Bell – Class Teacher, Alex Simard, Helen Eisenstein
Second Row (left to right)
Marilyn Robertson – Office Admin, Richard Lessard, Raynauld Beauhemin, Colleen McKenna, Annette Bingham, Elizabeth Forester, Nina Sharko, Sandra Shaar, Lise Decoste, Peter Bears, Peter Blendong, Pierre. Mrs. Craig – Music Teacher
Third Row (left to right)
Arthur, Peter, Johnny, Richard Scannell, Michael, Robert Horricks, Henry, Brian, Keith Davis. Photo source: Noreen (Doherty) McMillan
The photo which I have posted is from a post entitled:
Compilation of list of names for photo of Mrs. Bell’s Grade 7 class at Ahuntsic School, 1958
Among other posts of interest – with regard to the history of elementary schools associated with Malcolm Campbell High School – is a post entitled:
A Meeting of the People: School Boards and Protestant Communities in Quebec, 1801-1998 (2004)
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There are a few names I remember from “way back” at Ahuntsic. We moved from Ahuntsic in 1953 to Guertin Street, 2 blocks from Malcolm Campbell H.S. when Dudemaine was a cow trail toward MCHS. Next “stop” was Bordeau Max..
I also remember Alister High, Bob Horricks, Alex Simard, Richard Scannell, Ray Beau-
chemin and Keith Davis; Sorry names only as I was at MCHS with them all.
Hope they are all still “with us” and enjoying life !!!
Wonderful to read your message Bryan. I like your reference to Dudemaine as a cow trail toward MCHS. I am reminded that “The Bush” and “The Creek” were a central feature of life for those of us who were children in the area in the 1950s and 1960s.
It’s great to remember names. We celebrate those who are with us and we celebrate the memory of classmates and teachers who are gone.
One of the things I enjoy is getting together for lunch with people who attended MCHS and the elementary schools such as Ahuntsic, Elmgrove, and Cartierville School. I’ve been involved along with a lot of other people with organizing such lunches for many years – especially since the MCHS Sixties Reunion in 2015 in Toronto.
I refer in my case in particular to lunches (since the COVID era, they’ve been held outdoors) we have been organizing regularly in Southern Ontario as I’ve outlined in blog posts at this site in recent years. Our meetings are open to anyone who has attended MCHS and their friends and families. Our lunches email list includes people from MCHS who live outside of Ontario, who may wish to join us when travelling from anywhere else in the world.
We encourage other students from those years to do the same, wherever there are enough students in the same geographical area, in the event you are not already getting together for such in-person events. There’s tremendous value in keeping in touch through lunch meetings along with keeping in touch through social media.
I attended Ahunstic school from 1959 to 1965. Anyone out there remember me.
Good to read your message Lorraine.
You may wish to check the discussions about Ahuntsic School at previous posts at this website about Ahuntsic School. There may be some classmates you know, who have shared recollections about the school.
Another place to check might be the Montreal Past and Present Facebook group; there has been some discussion there about the school. Other places where former students have shared recollections are the MCHS ’60s Reunion Facebook group, and the Malcolm Campbell High School Grads Facebook group.
Always good to reconnect with classmates from years ago when that can be done.
Lorraine, your name is familiar. My 2 sisters, Penny and Linda plus myself all attended Ahuntsic School and then MCHS.
I attended between 1957 and 1961. Looking for Sylvia Saragossi and Maureen Scott. Our family moved away from the area to Longue Pointe (Hochelaga) area, as my father was a civilian with the military.