The Quick Answer
Lorne Akins was a St. Albert farmer, community builder and town councillor. His land ran from the Sturgeon River back to the north edge of today's school property. The building opened in 1963 as Paul Kane High School and was renamed Lorne Akins Junior High in 1973, with an official opening on October 4, 1973.
I'm John Carle, a REALTOR with Homes & Gardens Real Estate Limited, and I've been selling homes in St. Albert since 1999. Lorne Akins was a farmer, and his story is worth knowing.
On this page
Who was Lorne Akins?
According to St. Albert Public Schools, Lorne Akins was a well-loved farmer, community builder and St. Albert pioneer. He was known for hard work and a warm, caring nature. He was a good wrestler, hockey player and baseball player, helped set up a local community league and hall, and served as a town councillor.
His farm ran from the Sturgeon River back to the northern edge of the land the school sits on today.
How did the school get his name?
The building at 4 Fairview Boulevard first opened in 1963 as Paul Kane High School. When Paul Kane moved to its new building in the spring of 1973, the old school became a junior high. Students and staff from Sir Alexander Mackenzie walked across Sir Winston Churchill Avenue carrying their own desks to move in.
The school officially opened as Lorne Akins Junior High on October 4, 1973, with 405 students in Grades 7 to 9. His granddaughter, Marilyn Bosvik, unveiled a painting of him that still hangs in the school.
What is the school like today?
Lorne Akins teaches Grades 7 to 9 for St. Albert Public Schools. It went through a major modernization in 2006, and its atrium is still the heart of the building.
Key takeaways
- Lorne Akins was a farmer, community builder and town councillor, not a teacher.
- The school sits near land his farm once covered.
- The building opened as Paul Kane High in 1963 and became Lorne Akins Junior High in 1973.
- It was modernized in 2006 and serves Grades 7 to 9.
If you're house hunting near Fairview Boulevard, I can tell you what's for sale close to the school.
Just Call John. 780-937-7534
Sources
- Lorne Akins Junior High, Our Namesake: https://lorneakins.spschools.org/our-school/about/our-namesake
- Lorne Akins Junior High, About: https://lorneakins.spschools.org/our-school/about
- Lorne Akins Junior High, school history document: https://lorneakins.spschools.org/download/570587
- St. Albert Gazette, Once a gator, always a gator: https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/once-a-gator-always-a-gator-1286806