Victoria School

Description of the Historic Place

Victoria School is a large elaborate brick building that was built in 1909 at 639 Broadway Avenue. The school is located in the neighbourhood of Nutana and reflects an eclectic architectural style with Classic Revival and Second Empire influences. 

Heritage Value

The heritage value of Victoria School resides in its representation of Saskatoon’s early educational system. Victoria School, named in honour of Queen Victoria, was constructed in 1909 to meet the needs of Saskatoon's growing population. Designed by W.W. LaChance, the school was built on the original site of the Little Stone School House which was constructed in 1887.

Victoria School has been used for a number of purposes over the years. In 1910 for example, the University of Saskatchewan used Victoria School’s assembly hall for convocation and in 1912 for adult education evening classes. Classes connected with McGill Conservatory of Music, Westminster and Lutheran Churches, Boy Scout troops, Fair Week visitors, University lectures, Boys' League ball teams, and Rotarian Rugby players at one time or another, all used Victoria School. In the summer following WWII, Victoria School’s office space was utilized as a demobilization centre for army troops.  The school also became a meeting place for the Women Teachers Association, who lobbied for "equal pay for equal work."

Victoria School exhibits an eclectic architectural style. The variation in the design of the roof and the remainder of the building lends itself to no singular style. Rather, the school is part Classic Revival, part Second Empire, with the design containing some of the features of each. The brick veneer building is ornamented with green wood mouldings and cornices. The main portion of the school features a steeply-pitched central gable with an arched window dominating the pediment and cornice below. The front entrance is arched by wedge-shaped brick and concrete voussoirs which compliment the school's ornamentation.

Over the years, numerous additions have been made to Victoria School, with one of the larger ones being in 1976. That year the Saskatoon Public School Board laid plans to create a modern inner-city school that could house a number of special programs and services, including French immersion instruction, industrial arts and special education classes. After two years of work, the revitalization of Victoria School was hailed with an official reopening in November, 1980.  The changes included a brighter, more spacious open-plan entrance, the creation of a large learning resource area, and an industrial arts shop which could offer woodworking, drafting and photography courses. Exterior renovations included the repair of the roof, construction of a new outside entrance, and repointing of the brick work.

Victoria School continues to serve as a multipurpose, modern educational facility within one of Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods. The ‘castle-like’ school continues to be a community focal point and an important architectural feature in the Broadway area. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Victoria School in 1988, a life-size statue of a girl and her dog was cast in bronze-alloy and located on the right front portion of the school grounds.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Those features that relate to its historical value including its location on the site of Saskatoon’s earliest school, and its imposing and elaborate appearance;
• Its eclectic style of architecture, evident in: its brick façade; green wood mouldings and cornice; steeply-pitched central gable; arched windows; pediment; and arched front entrance.