Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government has approved funding for major school projects in northern and eastern Ontario as part of a broader $1.6-billion commitment to school construction across the province.
The announcements include $15.8 million for a new replacement Thessalon Public School in Northern Ontario and $5 million for an expansion at Montague Public School in the area served by the Upper Canada District School Board.
Together, the projects are part of Ontario’s Capital Priorities program, which is funding 79 school construction projects across the province. The province says the initiative will create more than 29,000 student spaces and over 1,900 licensed child care spaces.
In Thessalon, the funding will support the construction of a modern school facility that will deliver 222 new elementary student spaces and 64 licensed child care spaces for families in the Algoma District School Board.
The capital priorities program supports new builds, expansions, renovations and school purchases in growing communities and forms part of a broader commitment of more than $22 billion over 10 years for education infrastructure.
“Student success starts with having the right environment to learn,” said Paul Callandra, education minister. “We’re building the schools students need, and we’re making sure they get built quickly and on schedule.”
Todd McCarthy said the school projects are part of Ontario’s wider capital plan.
Separately, the province has approved $5 million to expand Montague Public School, adding 150 pupil spaces to its current capacity of 199.
The school is currently over capacity with 284 students enrolled and relies on four portable classrooms to meet demand.
Calandra says the government is prioritizing timely delivery of school projects.
“We’re building the schools students need, and we’re making sure they get built quickly and on schedule,” he said.
The project will now move into design and planning, with tendering expected in early 2027, construction set to begin in summer 2027, and completion targeted for September 2029.
School Board Trustee Jamie Schoular said the expansion responds to long-standing capacity pressures.
“We’ve seen the population grow and change in this community, to the point where the population outgrew the building several years ago,” Schoular said.
Both projects are part of its broader effort to modernize schools, expand capacity in growing communities, and ensure students have access to up-to-date learning environments across Ontario.
