Stirland Lake Indian Residential School (IRS) was located at Stirland Lake, approximately 30 miles southeast of Windigo Lake, in the District of Kenora. The IRS was in operation from 1971 - 1991 (20 years) and was initially to provide high school education for up to 20 Indian boys. The IRS became coed in September of 1986 and officially closed in June 1991.
Other names identifying the school include Stirland Lake School (1972) and Stirland Lake Student Residence (1978).
The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Northern Youth Programs, Inc., a branch of the Mennonite Northern Light Gospel Missions.
On December 29, 1971, the federal government signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Northern Youth Programs Inc. (NYP) to provide an education program for up to 20 Indian boys in grades 9 and 10 for the period October 15, 1971, to June 30, 1972. On January 11, 1982, the federal government signed a tuition agreement and addendum with the Northern Youth Programs to provide secondary school education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 32 male Indian students for September 1, 1981, August 30, 1982. On May 26, 1983, the federal government signed a tuition agreement with the Northern Youth Programs and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to provide secondary education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 57 Indian students from January 1 to December 31, 1983, for Stirland Lake IRS and Cristal Lake IRS. On November 22, 1984, the federal government signed a tuition agreement with the Northern Youth Programs and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to provide secondary education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 58 Indian students from January 1 to December 31, 1985, for Stirland Lake IRS and Cristal Lake IRS.
Grades taught at the IRS included grade 9, high school (10, 11, 12), and lower grades for children of staff starting in 1977/78. Total student enrolment during its 20 years of operation was 611+, with no statistics for 1974/76. The enrolment had a low of 15 in the first year, 1971/71, and a high of 64 (an anomaly since enrolment did not surpass 40 in any other year) in 1986/87 with an overall average annual enrolment of 32 students.
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1981-08-26
1978-06-08
2010 - 2015