Niji Mahkwa School

Former Names:
  • Aberdeen School
Address:450 Flora Avenue
Current Use:

Educational

Original Use:

Educational

Constructed:1955
Other Work:

Built as an addition to an old school with other additions including 1961

Architects:
  • Divisional, in-house
Contractors:
  • Wallace and Aikins, Ltd.

Photographs

More Information

Aberdeen school was constructed on this site in 1893. Growing enrollment led to the school being added to and replaced several times. The current s hool building dates to 1955, with an addition in 1961.

The older north wing along Flora Ave. is three storeys with large classroom windows and brick infill walls. There is good integrity in the facade, which although it has had some alterations, evokes the look of a 1955 facade in its modern, spare, balanced and symmetrical design.

On the west side another addition was made in 1961. It has less wall space devoted to windows, it blends volumes and alternates use of contrasting materials more than the straight-forward fifties section; both parts employ a mid-brown brick
The yard on the east side is generous and shares space with a small community club.

Aberdeen School closed in 1993 and re-opened the next year as the first Indigenous elementary school in Winnipeg. It was renamed Niji Mahkwa, which means “Our friend the bear”.

Design Characteristics

Neighbourhood:

The North End