August 8: Remembering William Sisler, Gordon Bell; The Guess Who reunite; Pan-Am Games close.

August 8, 1956 - Long-time teacher and school principal William J Sisler dies.

The Ontario-born Sisler was an educator who developed a great interest in the North End and its immigrant communities. He was principal of Strathcona School, then Isaac Newton High School until he retired in 1938.

He is credited with creating the “direct method” of teaching English to immigrant students which was later adopted throughout Manitoba and other jurisdictions.

“This method involved utilizing concrete words which could be illustrated by pictures or actions and building up gradually a vocabulary or words and short sentences most needed in conversation. Concurrently, a full program of music, crafts and sports was carried along and closely related to the work of reading and language.” (Source).

Sisler also created Winnipeg’s first night school and was an avid photographer of North End immigrant communities.

Upon his death the Free Press wrote:

"… (with his) wide ranging in his interests, he touched Canadian life at many diverse points; but there was something unique and memorable about his achievement at Strathcona. It was an achievement in creative citizenship. His life has become part of the biography of Winnipeg."

August 8, 1923 - Physician and scientist Dr. Gordon Bell dies. 

He was Manitoba's first Bacteriologist in 1897, part of the U of M's first faculty of science in 1904 and the chair of Manitoba's Heath Board from 1913 - 1917. It was he who ordered that all schools, theaters and places of worship be closed during the 1917 influenza pandemic.

August 8, 1999 - The Guess Who, (Bachman, Cummings, Kale and Petersen), play together for the first time in 16 years at the closing ceremonies of the XIII Pan Am Games at Winnipeg Stadium.

 August 8, 1999 - The XIII Pan American Games in Winnipeg come to an end. They were the largest sporting event ever held in Canada. Related: CBC story, U of M Pan Am website.

August 8, 2002 - Red River College receives a broadcast licence for campus radio station KICK FM. The station's last day of broadcast was July 4, 2012.