Ontario Building New Addition to School in Woodstock
Province’s investment in innovative and modern learning spaces will ensure students have high quality education in a safe and healthy environment
October 12, 2023
WOODSTOCK – As part of the province’s ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the Ontario government has provided the London District Catholic School Board with approval for a scope change to the new addition at St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School in Woodstock. This is supported by an investment of $11.1 million.
Once completed, this expanded project will now deliver 230 new elementary spaces, 88 new licensed child care spaces and an expanded gymnasium for local families. The investment is part of Ontario’s commitment to providing approximately $15 billion to support school construction, repair, and renewal over 10 years. Since 2018, the government has approved nearly 200 school construction projects and the development of more than 300 child care and education building-related projects, of which more than 100 are actively under construction.
“The funding for an expanded gymnasium at St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School in Woodstock is great news for our community,” said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead.”
Additionally, Ontario is taking action to ensure that school board capital assets are used effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of growing communities, support student learning and ensure value for taxpayer dollars. The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 empowers decision-makers to build modern schools faster by better utilizing school capacity, reducing barriers for school boards to facilitate agreements for schools in multi-use buildings such as condo towers, and shortening planning time through design standardization when constructing, renovating, or making additions to schools.
“We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “We are proud to deliver this critical expansion at St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School for Woodstock families, along with increasing funding, staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math skills to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers.”
“This is great news for one of our rapidly growing communities” said Vince Romeo, Director of Education for the London District Catholic School Board. “This much-needed school and gymnasium expansion, along with a daycare, will allow us to better meet the needs of our students and their families. We are thankful for the support of the Ministry of Education in moving this project forward.”
St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School is located at 1085 Devonshire Avenue in Woodstock.