Gertrude Colpus Public School

Gertrude Colpus Public School first opened its doors in the late 1950s and was open in Oshawa for over 50 years.

The school was named in honour of Gertrude Colpus, a distinguished trustee and chairman of the Durham District Board of Education. She was the first woman to hold a ministry position within the board and was widely praised for her contributions to education in the city. As S. G. Saywell, chairman of the board, noted, her efforts represented an “outstanding dedication and contribution to the cause of education” in Oshawa. At the school’s naming and dedication ceremony, Mayor Lyman Gifford also paid tribute to Colpus, acknowledging not only her leadership but also her dedication.

Construction took place through 1957. It was not complete before the start of the school year in September 1957, and students slated to attend this school attended classes at Duke of Edinborough School. The school officially opened in February 1958, at which Colpus gave a keynote address, reflecting on her 28 years with the Oshawa Board of Education.

Gertrude Colpus Public School was constructed to replace a prior school that had become structurally unsound. The roof had collapsed, and this incident prompted swift action from the board, leading to the building of a safer and more modern facility. An addition to the school was opened in 1959.

By the early 2010s, Gertrude Colpus Public School was a predominant part of its community. Its closure was not mourned but rather celebrated as a step forward. As an act of harmony, students from both Gertrude Colpus and T. R. McEwen ( located directly across the street) performed a joint flash mob just before the demolition, at an event attended by alumni and former staff who returned to say goodbye to their school. T. R. McEwen School was demolished before Gertrude Colpus was, to allow for the construction of David Bouchard Public School, and students attended Colpus while construction was taking place during the 2012/2013 school year. The opening of David Bouchard Public School in September 2013 marked the closure of Gertrude Colpus. It was demolished in 2021, and there are plans to build housing at the former site.

With information from:

https://www.durhamregion.com/life/oshawa-kids-come-together-at-new-school/article_aa02418b-30f6-5437-9959-32b338275622.html

https://www.durhamregion.com/news/dig-out-those-old-class-photos-gertrude-colpus-p-s-is-turning-50/article_92a3379c-1f3b-58b1-86e7-58eee6d3c6fa.html

Daily Times-Gazette (Oshawa Edition), 15 Feb 1958, p. 2

Daily Times-Gazette (Oshawa Edition), 2 Oct 1957, p. 3

The Oshawa Times, 1 Dec 1959, p. 3

Daily Times-Gazette (Oshawa Edition), 30 Aug 1957, p. 18

Oshawa Museum archival collection, Gertrude School file.