The Ontario government is providing $30 million to the York Region District School Board for a new Holland Landing elementary school, and $6.8 million to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board to expand Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
The funding will support the creation of 914 student spaces and 48 licensed child care spaces in East Gwillimbury and Bradford West Gwillimbury, according to York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney in a news release.
“Our government is bringing STEM-focused education closer to home for Bradford and East Gwillimbury families. By building a new elementary school and expanding a secondary school here in our growing communities, we are delivering on our promise to invest in the next generation,” said Mulroney.
The Holland Landing school will be located at a site to be acquired in East Gwillimbury, creating 638 student spaces and 48 child care spaces.
The expansion to Holy Trinity Catholic High School at 100 Melbourne Dr. in Bradford West Gwillimbury will create 276 additional student spaces.
The projects are part of a $1.3-billion plan to build and expand schools, creating 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 licensed child care spaces, announced by Stephen Lecce, minister of education, as part of the province's capital priorities program.
“Our government is more than doubling the funding to build new schools, which represents the single largest investment in school building in Ontario history,” said Lecce. “We are stepping up with a massive investment to build the homes, schools, and communities our province needs, and to ensure children have access to state-of-the-art schools close to home that gives them real life and job skills to succeed in the future. I want to reiterate my thanks to MPP Caroline Mulroney for her relentless advocacy for local families.”
“This announcement for a new school in the growing community of Holland Landing is welcomed news for our district,” said Bill Cober, YRDSB director of education. “We thank the provincial government for this investment and we look forward to creating another inclusive and welcoming school environment for our students and their families.”
“We have seen tremendous growth in Catholic education in the Bradford community. There is a new elementary school already in the works, and now this project at Holy Trinity Catholic High School will be another important addition to serve the students and staff in this area,” said Maria Hardie, board chair. “We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for making these important infrastructure investments so that we can continue offering the best possible opportunities for learning and growth.”
