(From left to right): Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education; Sue Barnett, Chair, District School Board of Niagara; Elizabeth Klassen, Trustee, District School Board of Niagara; Elizabeth Salari, Future Student, West Niagara Secondary School; Mat Miller, Principal, West Niagara Secondary School; Lindsey Accadia, Future Student, West Niagara Secondary School; Doug Newton, Trustee, District School Board of Niagara; Sean Hamad, Future Student, West Niagara Secondary School; Warren Hoshizaki, Director of Education, District School Board of Niagara, and Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education.
On Thursday, Ontario’s Minister of Education Stephen Lecce joined his Parliamentary Assistant and MPP for Niagara West Sam Oosterhoff in Lincoln to announce that the provincial government has given the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) approval to award the tender for the new West Niagara Secondary School in Beamsville.
The $50.4 million investment will provide a new, quality learning environment for students in Grimsby, Lincoln, and West Lincoln. The project will include a greenhouse and a modern 750-seat theatre to support specialty programming for students and broader community events.
“The funding for this new school is great news for our community,” said MPP Oosterhoff. “The community and educational services in this new project will provide students with a modern and supportive learning environment.”
The new West Niagara Secondary School, which will be located 5699 King Street in Beamsville, will include 1,533 secondary student spaces and support the consolidation of Beamsville District Secondary School, Grimsby Secondary School, and South Lincoln High School.
“After a decade of school closures in rural Ontario, our government knows that families in West Niagara deserve modern and accessible classrooms,” said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce.
“Thanks to the strong advocacy of local families and MPP Sam Oosterhoff, the construction of the new West Niagara Secondary School will improve learning for over 1,500 students with state-of-the-art classrooms, a modern theatre, and greenhouse with indoor and outdoor classroom to support pathways and learning in the skilled trades.”
Over the next ten years, the Ontario government plans to invest $14 billion in capital grants, including allocating $550 million in 2020/21 for new schools, additions, and major renovations.
“With a strong combination of advanced equipment, technology and facilities, a broad range of course offerings as well as community partnerships, West Niagara Secondary School will give students the tools and opportunities they need to find success in their futures,” said Sue Barnett, Chair of the District School Board of Niagara.
“This project has been in the making for a long time, and we are grateful to the Ministry of Education for their support in helping us bring these beautiful new facilities to our community.”
