1924 - 1946

Walter Burman

Walter Burman was one of the founders of the game of rugby football in Manitoba. Although he was a scholar in the classics, he took a keen interest in sports because he believed that the purpose of education is the development of sound minds and sound bodies.
Burman attended SJCS in 1889 and later graduated from the College. He joined the teaching staff in 1902 and was appointed Deputy Headmaster in 1913. He became Headmaster in 1924 and remained in that capacity until 1946 when he resigned. He died in 1948 at the age of 68.

Burman is remembered for many things but most specifically, in the school’s history, he is known as the longest serving staff member. He served 44 years and was the only Headmaster in the history SJCS to be appointed Headmaster Emeritus.
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St. John’s-Ravenscourt School was founded in 1820 principally to serve the children of the Selkirk settlers. By 1834 there were forty students, evenly split between boys and girls. SJR has inevitably grown and changed over the years since, though its success throughout has been unimpeachable. We have graduated 18 Rhodes scholars, for example, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted patronage and established a scholarship in her name in 1981. Today the programs are as strong as our reputation. A strong academic program is paired with an equally strong attention to the values of stewardship, ethical leadership, and excellence in all areas of academic, social and athletic life.