Poundmaker Carriage House Timeline
Edmonton Indian Residential School (EIRS) was active from 1924 to 1968. It was located on Treaty 6 territory near St. Albert, AB, just north of Edmonton. Other names for the school included: Poundmaker; St. Albert United; St. Albert Indian School; St. Albert Methodist Residential School; Edmonton Indian Student Residence; Edmonton Hostel. The school was operated by the Methodist Church, which later became the United Church of Canada (post 1925) and was funded by the Government of Canada.
The majority of students who attended EIRS were from the area surrounding Edmonton, specifically Saddle Lake and Hobbema Reserves. Other students were transported from Lesser Slave Lake, Rocky Mountain House and the Blackfoot and Blood Reserves. Many students from northern British Columbia were transported to EIRS, from the areas surrounding Terrace, Hazelton and Haida Gwaii. Students were also transferred to EIRS from Brandon, Manitoba. This timeline provides a chronological overview of the history of this school.
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1915
Poundmaker Day School is first operated as a day school by Father. E. Lacombe, OMI. Buildings are rented by Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) from the church
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1919
The DIA decides to replace the dilapidated Red Deer Industrial School that had operated 1893 to 1919.
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1920
Land at SEC 12 - TWP 54 - RGE 25 W4 is purchased after an inspection by Reverend T. Ferrier, principal of Brandon school , and W.M. Graham, Indian Commissioner.
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1924
February - a three story brick building is completed. March - EIRS opens. April - Indian Commissioner Graham reports 60 students two weeks after opening.
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1929 - 1930
Students from Brandon, MB temporarily moved to EIRS while the Brandon Industrial School is rebuilt. This leads to a peak enrollment of 207 students.
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1935
Principal Reverend J.F.Woodsworth is reprimanded by the DIA for leasing 275 acres of land to two farmers with an unauthorized crop sharing agreement, the leases are canceled and the money is returned.
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1946
December - the Provincial Fire Inspector reports that the existing fire escape poles are unusable, stating: "It is difficult to imagine any person and especially small children, being able to safely make their escape from the building in the event of fire by means of this type of escape."
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1950s - 1960s
The government transports students from northern B.C. to EIRS, with students from these communities becoming the majority of pupils around 1958
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1953
Renovations to the attic dormitories is completed to accommodate additional students and staff At some point between 1946 and 1953, metal exterior stairway fire escapes are installed - they are mentioned in the 1953 Fire Commissioner's report, in addition to the fire poles.
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1968
Edmonton Indian Residential School is closed.
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1974
The building is used as a substance use treatment centre under the name Poundmaker's Lodge