Construction on Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School. (Lethbridge School Division)

By David Opinko

New South Lethbridge elementary school named after Robert Plaxton, former superintendent

May 28, 2020 | 10:39 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The city’s upcoming elementary school in the Fairmont neighbourhood now has a name.

Lethbridge School Division Board Chair Clark Bosch says around 80 names were submitted, but they decided to go with Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School.

He was the district’s longest-serving superintendent, from 1973-1991, and spent many years as a teacher prior to that.

“[Plaxton] was very well respected by his colleagues and the people that worked with him and for him, so just all around, a very good decision for us.”

His wife Ann Louise Plaxton adds that it is a great honour to have the school be named after her late husband, who passed away in December 2018.

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The school is currently under construction at 4510 Fairmont Gate South.

“It will be in our own backyard, which is great. I take many walks out there now and look at it and think about his name on that school, and we may someday have great-grandchildren going to that school, which would be another feature for us. I’m looking forward to being part of the community and serving Bob’s name for the community.”

Dr. Plaxton was instrumental in opening the first school on the west side, Ecole Nicholas Sheran.

According to Bosch, this helped to turn West Lethbridge into the burgeoning neighbourhood it is today with over 40,000 residents, larger than the north and south sides.

“You think back then, long ago, the west side was kind of a fledgling part of Lethbridge, and to finally get schools over there, that’s a pretty cool thing to accomplish.”

Construction on Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary is progressing well.

The roof is now on, the portables have arrived, and the racks for the school’s solar panels have been installed.

Bosch says it is on pace to open in the fall of 2021.

The 42,000 square foot school will have the capacity to have up to 600 K-5 students.

A video of Dr. Plaxton’s wife and daughter talking about him can be viewed below:

Dr. Robert Plaxton. (Cornerstone Funeral Home)