Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario Ministry of Education has given Lampton Kent District School Board a project commitment approval and $74 million in capital funding for a new school in Forest in the Municipality of Lambton Shores near Sarnia.
Tenders have been let for construction to begin on the junior kindergarten to Grade 12 Blue Coast District School, which will include three childcare rooms and two EarlyON rooms for children up to age six and their families.
The board in a statement said it will move forward with the construction phase on a site just west of the Shores Recreation Centre in Forest.
It said the school will consolidate Aberarder Central School, Bosanquet Central Public School, Kinnwood Central Public School, and North Lambton Secondary School. It will also support the communities of Kettle & Stony Point First Nation, Lambton Shores, and Plympton-Wyoming.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Government of Ontario in helping us take this critical next step,” said Gary Girardi, director of education with the LKDSB.
“The Blue Coast District School will provide an inclusive, innovative, and future-focused learning environment for students from across the community for many, many generations to come.”
“This project has been years in the making and reflects the input and vision of our students, staff, families, and community partners,” added Brian McKay, associate director of corporate services for the LKDSB.
The site will include:
- A child and family centre with two EarlyON rooms
- A three-room childcare centre with forty-nine spaces (10 infant, fifteen toddler and twenty-four preschool)
- Modern facilities to support educational and extracurricular programming for kindergarten to Grade 12 students
A ceremony will take place in coming weeks in recognition of the significance of the site and in respect for the lands on which the school will be built. A formal groundbreaking event is planned for September.
