in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
February 07, 2023
As part of Ontario's ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the province provided the Bluewater District School Board with approval for a scope change and approval to proceed to tender for the new replacement Beavercrest Community School in Markdale. This is supported by an investment of nearly $15.5 million, which includes additional funding of $6.9 million.
The Government of Ontario is delivering more than $26.6 billion in education funding for the 2022-23 school year, the highest investment in public education in Ontario’s history. Investing in the province’s schools is an integral part of Ontario’s Plan to Catch Up, focussing on the priorities of parents and includes five key components:
Once completed, this re-scoped project will deliver 328 student spaces and 39 childcare spaces for local families. The investment is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to provide $14 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 the new school in Markdale is great news for our community,” said Rick Byers, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. “This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead.”
“Our government is investing $14 billion over ten years to build new schools, improve existing facilities and create child care spaces to ensure young people can reach their full potential," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “By building the new state-of-the-art Beavercrest Community School in Markdale, as well as investing in tutoring and mental health supports for the year ahead, we are getting students in Markdale back on track now and well into the future.
While we make progress building this new school to support hard-working parents, we remain committed to keeping students in more normal classrooms with extra curriculars, sports, and clubs.”
“This is fantastic news for the community of Markdale and Grey Highlands. It’s great to see, not only a commitment of 328 new student spaces, but an additional 39 new child care spaces, 2 new child care rooms and 2 room EarlyON and Family Centre. Working with the Bluewater District School Board has proven by working together we could build a new school, with the co-operation of Devonleigh Homes," said Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen. "Thanks to Ministers Lecce and Surma for supporting the new school and Premier Doug Ford who visited Markdale in 2019. It has been great working with our local MPP Rick Byers who delivered this wonderful news."
“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we’re building more state-of-the-art schools to support the needs of Ontario’s students, families and growing communities. By investing in innovative and modern learning spaces, we’re ensuring students have access to the quality education that will provide them with lifelong skills and education in a safe and healthy environment,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These investments are one of the ways we’re delivering on our promise to build Ontario, with an infrastructure budget of more than $148 billion over the next decade.”
Highlights of the project include:
“We are extremely pleased to receive this latest update so that the Beavercrest Community School replacement build project can move forward,” said Lori Wilder, Director of Education for Bluewater District School Board. “Thank you to the Ministry of Education for continuing to recognize the need for a new school in Markdale by approving our board’s request for a project scope change. We are excited to get shovels in the ground and see this project transform from concept to reality so that we can support area students as they learn and grow in an amazing facility.”
The new Beavercrest Community School will be located at Devonleigh Gate in Markdale.
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