Miles Macdonell Collegiate



Miles Macdonell Collegiate is a high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba that opened in September 1952 and is part of the River East Transcona School Division. Up until 2023, it was one of the six schools in Manitoba that participated in the International Baccalaureate Program, having announced its end in March of that year. The school offers classes in French Immersion geared towards university attendance in either official language. Miles Macdonell also offers several vocational tracks of study; including that of Cosmetics, Hairstyling, Industrial Arts, et cetera - in which students may also complete a dual diploma, thus earning both an academic high school diploma and technical/vocational certification upon their graduation.

Also of significant note are all of the extracurricular programming available at Miles MacDonnell Collegiate; consisting of several athletic programs offered of immensely high quality. For instance, The Buckeye's Football Team has traditionally always been considered one of Manitoba's most competitive Junior Football Leagues; from which international scouts are often found attending games and track meets - searching for potential prospects. The Chief Quarterback of the Football Team at MMC in its apogee of fame in 2007 was Paul Szelemej.

Innumerable extracurricular programs also offered at Miles MacDonnell Collegiate include, but are not limited to: Reach for the Top Team, Chess Club, several Athletics Programs, Mathematics Clubs, Theatrical Productions, Musical programming (including Jazz Band & Prodigy; now known as "Compass"), YiP (Youth in Philanthropy), KEY Club (Kiwanis Youth), Vietnam Orphanage Committee, and countless others.

The school is named after Miles Macdonell who, as the first governor of the Red River Settlement, led the Red River Settlers in 1812 and reported directly to Lord Selkirk, founder of the settlement. He is commemorated with a plaque that can be found just inside the front doors on Roch Avenue.

Music Program
Several albums have been produced in the school, mainly consisting of the school's choir program and their prestigious vocal group called "Prodigy", consisting of a small number of talented singers. Prodigy has performed in various countries, including Scotland, Austria, Mexico, and the United States. When Queen Elizabeth II came to Winnipeg in 2003, Prodigy was asked to perform for her, as well as performing at the International Peace Gardens for the 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Following the retirement of music teacher Zane Zalis in 2022, Prodigy was renamed to Compass and consists of vocals as well as other assorted instruments.

Festival Théâtre Jeunesse
On May 8, 2008, a group of students from the French Immersion program participated in the annual Festival Théâtre Jeunesse at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre). The group performed a piece titled "Le long voyage" (The Long Voyage), which won the top prize in the General Production category.

Miles Macdonell Collegiate was originally two separate schools and therefore occupies two main buildings. The north wing was originally Melrose Junior High which existed from 1954 to 1962. These buildings are linked by a hallway which, although it is above ground, is referred to as "The Tunnel". It was built in 1970 replacing a smaller 10 foot wide tunnel built in 1964. The Tunnel not only connects the two buildings, but is also home to the library and the theatre, previously connecting to the arts room as well. The original part of school, the present science wing, was built in 1952. It was followed by a 1955 addition, the south wing second floor, and a 1960 addition which added a gym and the school east of the tunnel. The former Melrose Junior High building became part of the school in 1962 and the current theatre, library and tunnel were added in 1970. In the 2010-2011 school year, two elevators were added to allow wheelchair access to the north and middle section second floors. In 2020, a large, new gym opened replacing the former Gyms A and B which were converted to other uses.

Alumni Association
The Alumni Association of the collegiate began coalescing in 1997 in preparation for a 50th anniversary reunion in 2002, and was officially incorporated as the “Miles Macdonell Collegiate Alumni Association” in 2003.

In 2002, a group of alumni created a trust fund which has raised over $130,000 for the collegiate as of June 2023.

Notable alumni

 * Chad Allan, musician
 * Charlie Birt, politician
 * Len Cariou, actor
 * Dave Chomiak, politician
 * Ash Koley, musician
 * Jeremy Kushnier, musician
 * Bill Masterton, hockey player
 * Cathy Shaw, curler