This cutting-edge educational institution will create 363 spaces for elementary-aged students and will be located at Kalar and McLeod Road. Pictured: MPP Sam Oosterhoff talking with students on the grounds of the future elementary school. Photo Credit: Sam Oosterhoff/X.
Another major construction project is commencing in Niagara Falls as the government of Ontario has announced $14 million in funding to build a new Catholic elementary school in the city. This cutting-edge educational institution will create 363 spaces for elementary-aged students and will be located at Kalar and McLeod Road.
“We are seeing explosive growth in the Niagara Region, as people come from across the country and world,” said Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff. “With big news like the Asahi Kasei plant coming to south Niagara, we know the growth of families in our communities will continue to surge.”
“It’s important that we have the school and infrastructure to handle this amount of growth, so I am always advocating with my colleagues and the cabinet to invest in our local community infrastructure, like schools,” Oosterhoff continued. “The new school in Niagara Falls and the expanded school in Welland will provide hundreds of additional student spaces – good news for families and students!”
The announcement is part of an unprecedented $1.3 billion province wide investment to construct new schools, renovate and expand older buildings and provide for quality childcare. It is expected that in total, numbers exceeding 27,000 new student openings and 1,700 childcare spots will be achieved through this initiative. “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 Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce.
“We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing the need for a new Catholic elementary school in South Niagara Falls,” shared Niagara Catholic District School Board Chair Danny Di Lorenzo. “This part of Niagara continues to experience a surge in growth, which we see in the student population increases at some of our nearby Catholic elementary schools and Saint Michael Catholic High School. A new Catholic elementary school will ease enrollment pressures at these schools, hopefully allowing more students to attend school closer to home.”
While financial backing is a necessary prerequisite to facilitating new construction, the Ontario government has also identified a priority in “providing school boards with more flexibility and support to get shovels in the ground quicker and have more options to use existing buildings in their communities.” The province sees these objectives as imperative to making progress on essential projects as quickly as possible.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati was on tap for the announcement of the new school. “The City of Niagara Falls is poised for unprecedented growth in the next few years and this new school is strategically located to accommodate our expanding community,” Diodati explained. “This new school will greatly benefit local families by offering the best quality education right in their own neighborhoods and right where we are growing.”
“This is a great news announcement for the Niagara Catholic District School Board and for the residents in South Niagara Falls who will soon have a new school,” said NCDSB Director of Education Camillo Cipriano, sharing his excitement. “The houses being built in this area are ideal homes for young families and that means an increased need for schools.”
“Niagara Catholic District School Board is a growing board, and we know that as demographics in the area continue to evolve, there will be families searching for Catholic education for their children. We look forward to opening a new school which will service Catholic students for generations to come.”
Those interested in learning more about plans to build new schools and other innovative infrastructure in Ontario are invited to read the Better Schools and Outcomes Act, as well as the 2024 Ontario Budget.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
