The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board has received $31.2 million in funding from the government of Ontario to build a new elementary school in the Waterdown area.
The Waterdown Bay Elementary School will be located at Skinner Road East and Great Falls Boulevard in Waterdown.
The plan is expected to create almost 700 new spots for students and almost 200 spaces for licensed daycare for the Hamilton area.
The addition to Mount Hope is scheduled to open by Feb. 2027, while the new elementary school has an estimated completion date for the 2027-2028 school year.
MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook Donna Skelly made the announcement Friday in the company of Education Minister Stephen Lecce.
READ MORE: HWDSB trustee plans to appeal decision barring her from attending private meetings
Skelly said Flamborough-Glanbrook is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario due to its unlimited potential.
“By investing in early learning, we are laying the foundation for the next generation of leaders and innovators, to build on this success,” Skelly said.
“At a Macro level, it really speaks to the pressure on enrollment, there is a rise, a sharp rise in growth. A lot of community growth and communities being built as we speak,” Minister Lecce said.
“Really what we’re trying to do is keep up the growth and for the first time in a long time think ahead to plan for growth,” Minister Lecce said, “we have to work together: federally, provincially, municipally, and school boards to plan for this massive influx.”
The school board is also using the province’s investment to build an addition at Mount Hope Elementary School.
READ MORE: HWDSB searches for solution for former Sir John A. Macdonald site
Costing $9.1 million, the addition will create 178 new student spaces and 88 licensed child care spaces at the school located at 9149 Airport Road.
These projects are part of the $1.3 billion Capital Priorities Program from Lecce to support new school construction and expansions to existing schools, including child care spaces.
“This $1.3 billion in funding represents the single largest investment in school building in
Ontario history,” Minister Lecce said.
“We are stepping up with a massive investment to build the homes, schools, and communities our province needs, and to ensure children have access to state-of-the-art schools close to home that gives them real life and job skills to succeed in the future.”