Dakota Collegiate

Dakota Collegiate is a grade 9 to 12 public high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with an enrollment of 1235 students as of January 2020.^[1] Dakota offers Advanced Placement courses in limited subject areas, that include mathematics and the sciences.^[2] On May 3, 2014, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.^[3]

Dakota Collegiate opened in 1963 with 200 students and 20 teachers. In June 1964, there were 72 students in the first graduating class. Dakota began as an experimental team-teaching school and offered only University Entrance courses. Dakota now has roughly 1200 students, approximately 60 teachers, and offers over 120 courses. In 2012, it had a graduating class of roughly 280 students.

The Dakota Collegiate Lancers have earned 590 provincial sports titles since the school was founded.^{[citation needed]}

During the 2011-2012 school year, Dakota Collegiate introduced the 21st Century Learning One-to-One initiative, in which all grade nine students were required to purchase their own laptop computer to use in their classes.^[4] The computers were used to complete assignments, create presentations, and research information. This initiative continued in the 2012-2013 school year, with grade 9 and 10 students requiring laptops, and an open invitation for students in higher grades to bring their own devices if they desire.^[5]

After 54 years of Dakota Collegiate's opening, the school never played a single home football game until the school raised money for "the field of dreams" project.^[6] The school started fund raising money in late 2015 for a brand new football field, outdoor basketball court and a cricket pitch.^[7] Dakota finished the project in late 2017. It took over $3,000,000 to complete building the football field, and it took over $180,000 to complete the basketball court. Fundraising for the project was through gala dinners with guest speakers such as Troy Westwood, Matt Dunigan, Milt Stegall, Rod Hill,^[8] Dale Hawerchuk, Mark Scheifele,^[9] Jon Montgomery, and Donovan Bailey.^[10] The field got its name from a $250,000 donation from the family of auto dealer Dan Murray.^[11] The basketball court was named after former Dakota Collegiate coach and teacher Dale Bradshaw.^[12] Between 1968 and 1982, Bradshaw coached Dakota Collegiate to five provincial basketball titles.^[13] In 2019, it was announced that the city of Winnipeg would be funding two new tennis and pickleball courts.^[14] The courts grand opening was held on October 5, 2020.^[15]

• Janet Arnott, curling coach, 2014 Winter Olympics gold medallist
• Kate Cameron, curler
• Monica Goermann, gymnast^[16]
• Elijah Harper, politician^[17]
• Brad Katona, UFC fighter^[18]
• Scott Koskie, Setter for the Canadian National Men's Volleyball Team (1995–2007)
• Connie Laliberte, curler
• Tricia Mayba, professional volleyball player
• Dylan McIlrath, NHL player
• Briane Meilleur, curler
• Theresa Oswald, politician
• Corinne Peters, curler
• Shai Ross, professional football player

• Dakota Collegiate's Website
• Louis Riel School Division Website
• Dakota Collegiate - About Us