George Bonner Middle School has approximately 700 students
enrolled in grades 6, 7 and 8. Most of our students are
bused to school each day. We draw our population from quite
a widespread area – including Spectacle Lake on the
top of the Malahat, Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Cobble Hill,
Cowichan Station and Cowichan Bay. When our students complete
Grade 8 at Bonner, most of them will attend Frances Kelsey
Secondary School.
George Bonner Middle School is bordered on three sides
by farmland. The Horton family owns the property, 240 acres
in all. The Horton family originally owned 45 acres bought
in 1929. In 1955 they purchased 195 acres from the Hollings
family. Shortly afterwards Les and Winifred Horton sold
10 acres to the school district for the site of the present
school. Most of Horton’s property is used for growing
hay.
The road running in front of the school was part of the
original Island Highway. In fact, if you look to the northwest
along Cobble Hill Road you will see an old farmhouse that
was a stage coach stop and the nearby barn was used as a
livery stable.
While the George Bonner is a middle school now, it did
not begin that way. George Bonner Secondary, named in honour
of Mr. George E. Bonner, a long time Trustee, was opened
in the fall of 1957. Bonner opened as a high school, so
that south end students from Grades seven to twelve would
not have to travel to Duncan to attend school. Prior to
the opening of Bonner, students who wanted to continue their
education at the secondary level in Duncan were often required
to board there. During its first year of operation, the
school served 200 students in grades seven to eleven, with
a staff of twelve guided by Mr. W. V. Allester, the school’s
first principal.
In 1958-59, Bonner, in its second year already had its
second Prinicpal, Mr. Todd. The school’s first grade
twelve graduating class, consisted of twelve young people.
In 1959-60, Bonner had its final grade twelve graduating
class – a group of fifteen. Apparently, this was the
final class of graduates because of the increased enrollment
at the school.
During the ensuing years, George Bonner became a junior
secondary school enrolling grades 8, 9, and 10. The school
built onto on at least four occasions to accommodate its
burgeoning enrollment. Mr. P. F. Owen was the principal
of the school until he took a position at the School Board
Office as a Director of Instruction. After Mr. Owen, a number
of people took up the principalship of Bonner including
Mr. S. Smyth, Mr. R. Rodman, Mr. P. Alexander; Miss E. J.
Milne made history by becoming the School District’s
first female Secondary principal. While Miss Milne was the
principal, the school changed from a junior secondary school
to a middle school enrolling grades 7 and 8. When Miss Milne
moved to a District position, Mr. H. S. Jawanda took over
the principalship.
Most of the George Bonner Middle School building was demolished
beginning of July 2005 and has been rebuilt including a
two-story classroom wing with an atrium, a stunning multi-purpose
room with theatre type of seating for over 300, library,
drama room and change rooms. The part of the building that
was not demolished has received a seismic upgrade and extensive
renovations. It is a beautiful building serving the educational
needs of south-end students enrolled in grade 6, 7 and 8
