Media Releases

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

New southwest school named Lillian Osborne High School

At a regularly scheduled Board meeting last night, the Edmonton Public Schools Board of Trustees approved a name for the new high school to be built in Edmonton's southwest.

The school will be named Lillian Osborne High School after Lillian Mary Osborne (1869 - 1929), the school district's first female teacher and one of Alberta's pioneering educators. Ms. Osborne began her career in 1889 at the 1881 Edmonton School house. She was a teacher for 40 years, 29 of which she spent with Edmonton Public Schools. She served at McKay Avenue, Queen's Avenue, Queen Alexandra, Delton and Glenora schools. During the remaining 11 years, she taught at schools in Spruce Grove and Millet. In 1983, Ms. Osborne received a posthumous Historical Board Recognition Award from the City of Edmonton for her contributions to education.

"The Board of Trustees is proud to name the new school after Ms. Osborne and honour her work to better public education in the district and the province," says Board Chair Bev Esslinger. The new school will be the first district high school named after a woman who is not a member of the royal family.

Edmonton Public Schools looks forward to opening the new high school in September 2008. It will enable the district to provide programming to approximately 1,000 students in the city's southwest communities and address a pressing need for a district high school in this rapidly growing area.

Media wishing an electronic version of Ms. Osborne's picture can contact Jane Farrell at (780) 429-8290.

For further information:
Lisa Austin, Director
Communications
(780) 429-8043

Jane Farrell, Media Relations Consultant
Communications
(780) 429-8290