Abbie Scott was a member of the Edmonton Grad basketball team of 1923-1924, which won the world basketball championships held in Edmonton in 1923. The team traveled to Europe in 1924. The team disbanded in 1940. Scott was a member of the Edmonton Grads Club, an alumni association, and took part in the ceremony inducting the team into Edmonton Hall of Fame in 1973.

Angus McBeath is the tenth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Teacher at Alex Taylor School.

A. Y. Jackson, CC, CMG, was a Canadian painter and a founding member of the Group of Seven. Jackson made a significant contribution to the development of art in Canada and was successful in bringing together the artists of Montreal and Toronto. He exhibited with the Group of Seven from 1920. In addition to his work with the Group of Seven, his long career included serving as a war artist during World War I (1917–19) and teaching at the Banff School of Fine Arts from 1943 to 1949. In his later years, he was artist-in-residence at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg, Ontario.

Miss McAvoy has been a resident of Edmonton for many years, taught school in the city and is keenly interested in the preservation of Edmonton's history. She was a championship tennis player and active in many other sports. She has compiled her own and others' memories and written a history of the Edmonton School District.

Burt Demeriez was an Edmonton Public Schools teacher, Outdoor Education Consultant, Bennett Environmental Education Centre Coordinator and Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum Program Coordinator. After retiring from the Edmonton School Division in 1991, Demeriez began contract work with Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum. Notably, he conducted the "1881 Schoolhouse" program as one of its pioneering program teachers. Additionally, he developed the Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum programs "Mr. Puffer Goes to Provincial Parliament: A Study of Government in Perspective" (implemented in 1991-92) and "Grandma's Place: A Visit to Grandma and Grandpa's Place in the Past" (implemented in 1993-94).

Darrel Robertson is the thirteenth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Born in Gloucester in 1893, Dorothy was the first woman to be appointed as the Official Royal Photographer (for the 1937 coronation). She built an illustrious career as a society and royal photographer.

Edgar Schmidt is the twelfth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Elder Dr. Whiskeyjack is a trusted cultural advisor and elder and has guided countless educators and students in Edmonton Public Schools and other community organizations. He is committed to advocating on behalf of Indigenous people and, in a spirit of inclusivity, encourages us all to ‘be proud of who you are, but be gentle with each other.

The values espoused by Elder Dr. Whiskeyjack are critically important to us as we come together as a community of students, educators, and parents with a shared educational goal. Please take a moment to watch this inspiring video to learn more about the values and life of Elder Whiskeyjack.

There is a series of five photographs, The Cottingley Fairies, taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, two young cousins who lived in Cottingley, near Bradford in England. In 1917, when the first two photographs were taken, Elsie was 16 years old and Frances was 9. The pictures came to the attention of writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used them to illustrate an article on fairies he had been commissioned to write for the Christmas 1920 edition of The Strand Magazine. Doyle was enthusiastic about the photographs and interpreted them as clear and visible evidence of supernatural phenomena. Public reaction was mixed; some accepted the images as genuine, others believed that they had been faked.

Emery Dosdall was the ninth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Dr. Ernest Hodgson was Board Chair for 1980-1983.

Ernest Lund was an Edmonton Public School Board Trustee.

An artist who gifted oil paintings to Sherbrooke School in 1963.

George McKee is the third Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools. McKee was appointed in 1924. He remained in this capacity for 17 years until his retirement in 1940. Periods of stability, depression and financial cutbacks were experienced during his tenure.

In his first year as Superintendent, McKee participated in opening ceremonies for three new schools: Garneau, Riverdale and Frank Scott (later renamed Eastwood). McKee was well liked by the teachers and remarkably few teachers resigned or left the Division during his time as Superintendent.

A former teacher at Sherbrooke School from 1958-1960 donated an oil painting of Mount Edith, in Banff, Alberta, to Sherbrooke School.

R. Herbert Jamieson was an Edmonton Public School Board Trustee from 1971 to 1983.

Herbert Story served as Building Commissioner for Edmonton Public Schools from 1916 to 1936.

John Gordon Sinclair was born in Komoka, Ontario, in 1889. After attending Normal School in London, Ontario, he taught school for several years in Ontario before moving to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1912. He had originally intended to take a job in Saskatchewan, but when that position fell through, he carried on to Edmonton. There, he found employment at the Edmond Technical School, where he taught art and design for 25 years. He was later the principal at McKay Avenue School, from which he retired in 1955. Sinclair was also known for his landscape and portrait painting.

Jack Weldon Humphrey was born in Saint John, New Brunswick on January 12th, 1901. From 1920 to 1923, Humphrey studied at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts under Philip Hale (1865-1931), learning to draw the figure with charcoal. He was subsequently enrolled from 1924 to 1929 at the National Academy of Design in New York, where he studied painting under Charles Hawthorne (1872-1930) for two years. In the late 1920s Humphrey spent his summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts and at the Cape Cod School of Art, where he continued to study with Hawthorne. Travelling abroad for nine months in 1930, Humphrey studied painting at Hans Hofmann's (1880-1966) school in Munich from March to May. The Depression forced him to remain in Saint John upon his return, except for a trip in 1933 to Vancouver and in 1938 to Mexico. Humphrey painted still lifes, portraits, landscapes, and figures in oil and watercolour. He was affiliated with many artist groups, including the Canadian Group of Painters (founding member, 1937); the Eastern Group in Montreal, 1938 (later, the Contemporary Arts Society); the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (Director, 1944; Vice-President, 1945); and the Canadian Society of Graphic Art (Regional Representative, 1946; Eastern Vice-President, 1951; Regional Representative, 1956, 1959). In March 1945, Humphrey was appointed to the art staff of Queen's University Summer School, in Kingston, Ontario, to teach painting. Humphrey has also been honoured with numerous awards including a Doctor of Laws by the University of New Brunswick in 1951; a Canadian Government-Royal Society Overseas Fellowship to paint in France for a year in 1952; and a Canada Council Senior Arts Fellowship in 1960. In 1966-1967, a retrospective exhibition of his work was organized by the National Gallery of Canada that toured through Canada. Humphrey died of a heart attack on March 23rd, 1967, in Saint John, New Brunswick. After his death, Jack Humphrey's wife, Jean, was very active in the promotion and sale of his work.

Artist.

James McCaig is the first Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools. McCaig served from July 20, 1906 to October 31, 1913. Ten permanent schools were built during the seven years that he served and five more were nearing completion at the time of his resignation. Superintendent McCaig was a progressive thinker in terms of educational philosophy. He stated that “The ultimate end of school work is character building”. He proposed expanded household science, music, and physical education classes in the belief that a richer curriculum would help keep pupils in school.

Jim Wiebe was a member of the Edmonton Public School Board Trustees from 1980 to 1983.

Joan Cowling was a member of the Edmonton Public School Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1992. Cowling helped establish the new French Immersion program through an active parent organization and was later elected as a trustee to the EPSB. She served on the board for 12 years, including three terms as chair, during a period of incredible growth and innovation.

Joan Cowling has worked extensively in the area of human resource management and development in both the public and private sectors. In 1991-1992, Ms. Cowling served as the President of the Canadian School Boards’ Association (CSBA). As President of CSBA, she was part of a committee that developed a model policy for multiculturalism and race relations for school boards throughout Canada. During her public tenure, Ms. Cowling has served in the following capacities: Provincial Executive, Alberta School Boards Association; Steering Committee Member, Economic Development Study, City of Edmonton; Board of Directors, Alberta Association for Multicultural and Intercultural Education; Board of Directors, Alberta School Employees’ Benefit Plan; Board of Directors, Edmonton Space Science Centre; Names Advisory Committee, City of Edmonton; and, Chairman, Museum/Archives Restoration Committee, McKay Avenue School. Ms. Cowling continues to be an active member and facilitator of various civic, provincial and national committees and task forces dealing with intergovernmental relations, multicultural and race relations, collective bargaining and contract interpretations, organizational analysis and strategic planning.

Cowling now serves as Vice-President of the Friends of 1881 Schoolhouse and Historic McKay Avenue School Society.

John Cameron was the Secretary-Treasurer for the Edmonton Public School Board of Trustees from 1886 to 1896.

Dr. John Andrews was a member of the Board of Trustees for 1961-1962.

Artist.

Lyall Thomson is the eleventh Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Artist.

Marla Wilson traces her love of nature to her childhood in Mountain Park, Alberta. A well-educated artist, Marla began taking art classes at the age of six. Marla continued her formal art education with sculpture & advanced drawing classes at the University of Alberta. Marla paints with dedication and commitment to authenticity. She loves her subject and has diligently studied animal anatomy, plant life and landscape. She has worked in various media, but has found that acrylics and oils best suit her subject and technique. The results are much sought after by public galleries and private collectors. Marla Wilson's work has received worldwide recognition. Her work is found in private & corporate collections in Japan, Peru, Bahrain, England, Wales, Chile, the United States and Canada. Her image "Western Prairie" was awarded "Jurors' Choice for Best New Artist" at the 2003 Calgary Stampede Western Art Auction. While wildlife has traditionally comprised a large portion of Marla's works, she has recently been creating several paintings of Western Canada landscapes. These dynamic images are proving to be very popular amongst collectors of both originals and limited edition works.

Matthew McCauley was the first mayor of the town of Edmonton. In 1881, he established a livery stable and butcher shop. McCauley also helped to organize Edmonton's first public school in 1881 and was a founding member (served for 18 years) of Edmonton's school board. When Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892, McCauley became mayor by acclamation and was re-elected in 1893 and 1894. In 1905, the year that Alberta became a province, he was elected to the first Provincial Legislature. McCauley resigned after a year to become the warden of Edmonton's first federal prison, working there from 1906 to 1911.

Michael A. Strembitsky is the eighth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Michael Alexander Kostek was born in 1926 in Poland and immigrated to Two Hills, Alberta, with his parents in 1928. He moved to Edmonton to earn an education degree at the University of Alberta. In 1953, Kostek started with Edmonton Public Schools as a junior high school teacher at Oliver School (now Wîhkwêntôwin School), Ritchie School and Hardisty School and was a principal at Lauderdale School and Waverly School. Kostek also held positions of Junior High School Consultant, Director of Communications, Director of Administrative Staffing and retired as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent in 1983.

In addition to his years of service with Edmonton Public Schools, he had teaching experiences in Quebec, Malawi, and the Netherlands. After retirement, Kostek put his experience to good use as the school Archivist-Historian at McKay Avenue School. Kostek’s contributions to public education were recognized in 1984 when he received an Alberta Achievement Award for Excellence in Education.

After retiring, Kostek became involved in the history community in Edmonton and was heavily involved in the restoration of McKay Avenue School and in the creation of Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum. Michael wrote two books: "Looking Back: A Century of Education in Edmonton's Public Schools" in 1982 and an undated version in 1992 called "A Century and Ten: A History of Edmonton Public Schools.

In recognition of his many contributions as a volunteer with many historic associations, Kostek was inducted into the city’s “Historic Hall” in 1982 and in 1989, he received the City of Edmonton Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition as an Outstanding Citizen in Alberta. In 2002, he was awarded the Award of Merit from the Edmonton Historical Society and in 2003, was the recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. Michael Kostek died in 2015.

Watercolour artist and art educator, Murray MacDonald, was born June 18, 1898, in Nova Scotia. MacDonald started sketching at the age of six. At this time, he focused primarily on delineating the sinking of the Titanic. On his 18th birthday, MacDonald enlisted in the army and was posted in Siberia. While on tour, he sketched frequently; unfortunately, he left his sketchbook in Siberia. After returning home, MacDonald taught at several rural schools. He eventually moved to Edmonton, where his career as an art educator flourished. He taught Applied Design at a technical high school, instructed at a division of the University of Alberta, and eventually became the Supervisor of Art for the Edmonton School Board. MacDonald also took time to instruct at The Banff School of Fine Arts (today The Banff Centre). It is here that MacDonald met A.Y. Jackson. MacDonald also taught classes at the University of Washington, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, and at the Edmonton Art Gallery. In 1960, MacDonald retired; however, he was quickly asked to become a visiting professor in Art Education for the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. MacDonald worked primarily in the realm of watercolour painting; however, he occasionally experimented with oil and acrylic as well. His subject matter was primarily landscapes; however, his painting style ranged from abstract to realism. For his exceptional contributions to art education, he received the Government Achievement Award for Excellence in 1979, and a honourary degree from the University of Alberta.

Dr. Peter F. Bargen is the sixth Superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools.

Robert Wakeham Pilot (October 9, 1898- December 17, 1967), born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, moved to Montreal in 1910 following his mother’s marriage to the renowned Canadian artist Maurice Cullen. Growing up in an artistic household, he was deeply influenced by his stepfather and began his formal education in art under William Brymner at the prestigious Art Association of Montreal. His early exposure to art was further solidified with studies in Paris at the Académie Julian under Jean-Paul Laurens, where his work was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1922.

After serving as a gunner in World War I, Pilot returned to Montreal, where his career flourished. He was recognized for his Impressionist-style landscapes, which vividly captured urban scenes and harbours of Montreal and Quebec City. Pilot’s technique, characterized by vibrant colours and atmospheric effects, was influenced by his travels across France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Morocco, and Algeria, as well as his artistic engagements in the Canadian Maritimes.

Pilot was an integral figure in the Canadian art scene, not only for his art but also for his commitment to teaching at l’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Montreal from 1935 to 1939. He held significant positions such as the president of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts from 1952 to 1954 and exhibited his works extensively at major venues, including the Art Association of Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

His contributions during his second military service in World War II, where he re-enlisted and served as a captain in the Black Watch, were honoured with the title of Member of the British Empire (MBE). Throughout his life, Pilot was celebrated for his dedication to Canadian art and was posthumously honoured with a retrospective exhibition in 1969 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Robert Wakeham Pilot’s works are held in high regard and continue to be part of major public collections such as the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario. His legacy is remembered through his contributions to Canadian impressionism and his mentorship to future generations of artists.