$46M for new schools, child care

Provincial funds will add 1,665 elementary student spaces, 234 daycare spaces

The province is investing $45.8 million to build four new schools and add child-care spaces in Waterloo Region.

A total of 1,665 elementary student spaces and 234 child-care spaces will be created with the money announced Wednesday by Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce.

The Waterloo Region District School Board is getting $16.6 million for a Breslau school with 611 elementary spaces and 73 childcare spaces.

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is getting $12.1 million for a Kitchener elementary school with 527 spaces and $15 million for a Kitchener school with 527 elementary spaces and 88 child-care spaces.

The French school board Conseil Scolaire Viamonde is getting $2.1 million for a child-care addition with 73 spaces at a Waterloo school.

“As a father of five, I know firsthand how important access to safe, modern and accessible schools and child-care spaces is for our communities,” Harris said at the virtual announcement. “Three new schools along with hundreds of new child-care spaces is great news and will provide more choice and flexibility for families and new opportunities for the children of Waterloo Region.”

The new schools are BreslauHopewell Crossing on Loxleigh Lane and Ironhorse Drive; Rosenberg Catholic Elementary School on a site yet to be acquired in Kitchener; St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School on Thaler Avenue and Burgetz Avenue in Kitchener; and École élémentaire L’Harmonie on Bridgeport Road East.

The projects are part of a provincewide investment of more than $600 million to support new school and child-care spaces recently announced by Lecce.

They are expected to be completed and open no later than the 202425 school year.

“Our government is investing in families and children across the Waterloo Region by delivering funding to build three new modern schools and expand child care,” he said. “We are ensuring that modern, internet-connected, accessible, well-ventilated schools will be built to respond to growth and support student success, safety, and development.”

Loretta Notten, director of education for the Catholic board, said she’s grateful for the funding for two new schools.

“With our growing enrolment, we

know that these new facilities will help us meet the needs within our system.”

The public board’s director of education, jeewan chanicka, said the growing Breslau community needs the new school and child-care spaces.

“For those we serve, this means that families in Breslau will be able to access new learning spaces that will help every student to discover their passion, and embark on a learning journey to reach their fullest potential.”

Benoit Fortin, vice-chair of Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, said “with this investment, the ministry is strengthening its commitment to support the growth of the Francophone community in Ontario and is helping to address the pressing need for French-language services in the Waterloo Region.”

Regional Chair Karen Redman thanked the province for the significant investment for the region’s children, saying the news spaces will become important hubs for the community and growing families across the region.

“Schools are vital centres of gravity where our children can learn and play,” Redman said.