Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Janet Metcalfe

Female 1853 - 1935  (81 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Janet Metcalfe 
    Born 9 Sep 1853  , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Female 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Free Church Presbyterian 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Presbyterian 
    Residence 1935  20 Ahrens St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Died 12 Apr 1935  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Honoured 2018  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    school named for her 
    • Janet Metcalfe Public School, located in Southwest Kitchener at the corner of Seabrook Drive and Amand Drive is scheduled to open in September 2018 for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. The school will also be home to a child care centre.

      Trustees voted on Monday to name the school after Ms. Metcalfe who became the first public-school kindergarten teacher in the country at Central School, later renamed Suddaby Public School, in Kitchener 135 years ago in 1882. Records indicate that her work alongside Jeremiah Suddaby on early kindergarten education played a major role in understanding the principles and practise of education in the late 19th Century.

      New school named after Canadian kindergarten pioneer from Kitchener (Waterloo Region District School Board). (2017). Wrdsb.ca. Retrieved 23 November 2017, from https://www.wrdsb.ca/blog/2017/11/22/new-school-named-after-canadian-kindergarten-pioneer-from-kitchener/#.Whaq80pKuUl
    Interesting education, story, honoured 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-260887 
    Buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I260887  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father William Metcalfe,   b. 1823, , Banffshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Isabella Roy,   b. 1825, , Morayshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F230266  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • FORMER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DIES

      Miss Janet Metcalfe, Pioneer Kindergarten Teacher, Passes In 82nd Year

      One of Ontario's pioneer instructors in kindergarten work, Janet Metcalfe, a former principal of Margaret Avenue public school, passed away at her home, 20 Ahrens street east, late Friday afternoon. Miss Metcalfe, who taught in Galt and Stratford prior to coming to Kitchener, was in her 82nd year. After 31 years of educational work in Galt, Stratford and Kitchener, Miss Metcalfe retired at the conclusion of the term in 1901. She was principal of Margaret Avenue school, at the time. Nine of the 31 years were spent in Galt and Stratford. Kitchener's pioneer kindergarten teacher, Miss Metcalfe was associated with the late Mr. Suddaby at the old Central school, now Suddaby school. Surviving are two brothers, George and William Metcalfe, both of Kitchener and three sisters, Mrs. W. C. Ormiston, Los Angeles, Cal. and Misses Mary and Cathrine, Kitchener, Two brothers, Simon and Alexander and one sister, Isabella, predeceased her. The funeral will be held publicly, Monday afternoon, from Schreiter-Sandrock Funeral Home, at 3.30 o'clock. Remains will be interred in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rev. O. Taylor-Munro will officiate.

      Kitchener Daily Record 13 Apr 1935 pg 1

  • Sources 
    1. [S1885] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1861, Waterloo 1861 Dist. 2 Page 17.

    2. [S2658] aaaaWaterloo Village 1871, Sect. 1 Page 13.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 9 Sep 1853 - , Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Free Church Presbyterian - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1871 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 12 Apr 1935 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsHonoured - school named for her - 2018 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth