Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction has started on a new French-language elementary school in west Hamilton that will accommodate 271 students and include a 49-space daycare centre.
GEN-PRO is the general contractor for the Conseil scolaire Viamonde project at 125 Rifle Range Rd. The school is designed by JP Thomson and is expected to open in September 2027.
The Ontario government announced $10.3 million in funding for the school in April 2022. The funding announcement outlined plans for a kindergarten-to-Grade 6 facility and licensed child-care spaces.
The proposed one-storey school will include outdoor play areas with asphalt and grass surfaces, along with parking and designated bus and fire routes, according to the project’s planning details.
The site plan received conditional approval on Jan. 16, 2025, marking a step forward in the project’s planning process.
For GEN-PRO, the project is its first ground-up school construction job. The company said the work represents an expansion of its experience with new-build projects.
The new facility will provide a French-language learning environment for students from kindergarten to Grade 6, along with child-care services for families in the area.
Construction is expected to continue until September 2027.
