St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (SJR), one of Winnipeg’s oldest private institutions, has announced it will phase out its long-standing boarding program. For 75 years, the school has welcomed students from across the globe into its residence halls, but declining enrolment and a series of external challenges have prompted the institution to discontinue the service.
In an announcement made earlier this week, Jim Keefe, Head of School, informed the SJR community that the decision to close the boarding program will be implemented gradually, with no new boarding students being accepted from September 2025 onward. This marks a significant shift for a school that has long prided itself on providing a home for international students, many of whom traveled from overseas to attend the institution.
A Once-Prominent Boarding Program
SJR, located at 400 South Drive, has long been recognized as a leader in Western Canada’s educational landscape. The school has a rich history, dating back to its founding in 1820, and was one of the first to introduce boarding facilities for students in the region. At its peak, the boarding program was a key element of the school’s identity, with a significant proportion of its student body residing on campus. These students, many of whom came from overseas, added a diverse and global dimension to campus life, contributing to a vibrant, multicultural community.
However, in recent years, the number of students in the boarding program has dramatically declined. According to Keefe’s memo to parents and staff, “At its peak, boarding students made up a significant proportion of the school’s enrolment and added much to the rich tapestry of life at the school.” Today, the boarding program serves fewer than 1% of the overall student body.
In the 2019-2020 school year, SJR’s residences housed 37 students, but this year, the number has dwindled to just eight. This dramatic drop has made it increasingly difficult for the school to sustain the program, prompting the decision to phase out boarding entirely.
Factors Behind the Decline in Boarding Enrolment
Keefe pointed to several contributing factors behind the decline in boarding student numbers. One key reason is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted international recruitment. Travel restrictions, coupled with the financial uncertainty caused by the pandemic, led to a significant decrease in the number of international students seeking to study in Canada.
In addition to pandemic-related challenges, Keefe also highlighted other issues that have affected the viability of the boarding program. These include a federal cap on international study permits, which has limited the number of students allowed to study in Canada on a temporary basis, and the growing demand for domestic students to attend boarding schools. The drop in domestic interest in boarding schools, coupled with an increase in international students seeking to study in urban centres, further diminished the pool of potential students.
Another factor, according to Keefe, is the rising “geopolitical risks” that have deterred international families from sending their children to study in Canada. These risks, along with increasing competition from other educational institutions, have compounded the challenges facing SJR’s boarding program.
The Changing Landscape of Boarding Schools in Manitoba
Andrew Micklefield, Executive Director of the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools, commented on the broader trend of declining boarding enrolment in the province. Currently, only three traditional schools in Manitoba still offer boarding facilities: SJR, Balmoral Hall School, and Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna.
While the SJR announcement marks the end of an era for the school, it is not an isolated case. Balmoral Hall, a prominent all-girls school in Winnipeg, has also witnessed a significant drop in boarding enrolment. Spokeswoman Jennifer Pawluk explained that factors such as the fallout from pandemic-era travel restrictions, financial challenges for families, and shifting educational preferences have all contributed to the decline.
Balmoral Hall, founded in 1901 as Havergal College, once faced such high demand for boarding placements that the administration had to hire additional staff just days before opening. However, in the years since the pandemic, the number of students living in the school’s modern apartment complex in West Broadway has fallen sharply. The current figure stands at around 25, down from pre-pandemic levels of 50 to 60 students.
Despite these challenges, Pawluk emphasized that the school remains committed to offering a residential experience to both domestic and international students. The school continues to cater to students in grades 6 and up, with many rural families seeking boarding placements for their daughters to take advantage of specialized programs, such as the school’s competitive hockey program.
The Changing Nature of Boarding Schools: A Broader Shift
While SJR and Balmoral Hall are two of the more prominent schools offering boarding in Manitoba, they represent an increasingly rare breed. The concept of boarding schools has evolved significantly over the years, as the educational landscape has shifted to accommodate changing family dynamics, financial pressures, and evolving student needs.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB), for example, recently introduced a specialized boarding facility for young performers, offering an integrated program that combines academic education with specialized dance and fitness training. This move reflects the growing trend of niche boarding programs tailored to specific talents and career paths, something that traditional academic boarding schools, like SJR, have struggled to replicate.
Keefe, in his communication to the SJR community, acknowledged that the boarding program’s decline has been part of a broader trend. “It was around the 1970s when interest in campus housing began to shift from domestic students to international students,” he noted. However, despite the changing nature of the boarding landscape, Keefe remains confident that SJR will continue to thrive as an institution. The school’s focus will now shift to enhancing its day school offerings and ensuring that the institution remains competitive within the broader educational market.
Looking Ahead: The Future of SJR
SJR’s decision to end its boarding program will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for the school and its community. However, the school remains committed to providing a high-quality educational experience for all its students, both domestic and international. Keefe’s memo emphasizes that the school will continue to provide a rich academic and extracurricular experience for its remaining students, ensuring that the SJR tradition of excellence is maintained.
As for the future of the school’s international student recruitment, SJR will continue to explore new avenues for attracting students from abroad. Keefe highlighted that, despite the challenges faced by the boarding program, SJR remains committed to its core mission of providing an exceptional university-preparatory education.
While the end of SJR’s boarding program marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in the school’s history, it also signals a shift in the broader educational landscape. As global factors continue to reshape the way students live, learn, and study, the future of boarding schools in Manitoba will likely look very different from the past.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for SJR
The winding down of St. John’s-Ravenscourt School’s boarding program marks a turning point in both the school’s history and the broader educational landscape in Manitoba. While the decision is bittersweet for those who have cherished the tradition of international boarding at SJR, it reflects the changing needs and realities of today’s globalized educational environment. As the school adjusts to these new circumstances, it will no doubt continue to uphold its legacy of excellence, both in Canada and abroad.
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