The Ellison Heritage School Community Centre
In 1895 George Whelan donated an acre of land on which to build a school for the growing number of children in the Ellison District. Built in 1911 and opened in 1912, Ellison School was ued by School District 23 as a functioning school until 1996. On November 19, 1999 a referendum was held in this community to determine if Ellison residents were willing to pick-up a portion of the cost to renovate this building to be used as a community centre. The referendum was approved by a hearty majority and the building was restored & renovated for use as a community centre and volunteer fire department administration & training centre.
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| An excerpt from “The History of Ellison District 1858 – 1958
The two-roomed school which still serves the Ellison District for Grades 1 to 6 was build by Mr. J.A. Bigger for approximately seventy-five hundred dollars. The following account of the opening on January 14, 1912 was given in the Kelowna Courier:
‘A large number of people drove out from town on Tuesday night to attend the opening of the new Ellison school which was made the occasion of an enjoyable entertainment commencing with a programme of music and speeches, followed by a toothsome supper, served in the basement of the school and wound up with a dance that was kept up till a late hour. The residents of the Ellison District were out in full force and the attendance was estimated to be between three and four hundred. Mr. M. Hereron presided and among the speakers were the Honourable Price Ellison who performed the opening ceremony, Mr. Thos. Lawson, chairman of the Kelowna School Board, Mr. T.J. Cominsky of Vernon and principal A.R. Lord and Mr. L.V. Rogers of the Kelowna teaching staff.’
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The history of your neighbourhood is its identity!
