Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction has kicked off for Wasaga Beach’s very first high school and community center, a project that local officials believe will greatly improve educational access in Ontario’s largest municipality without a secondary school.
Officials met at 486 River Rd. W. for the groundbreaking ceremony on the $70.1-million initiative, which will feature a K-12 school accommodating 1,008 students, 49 licensed childcare spots, a 300-seat community theater, track-and-field facilities, and shared learning spaces.
The development will also offer post-secondary and continuing education options through collaborations with Canadore College and Lakehead University.
This project is financed by $67.3 million from the provincial government alongside a $2.8-million contribution from the Town of Wasaga Beach aimed at enhancing the community theater. A land donation from Far Sight Homes has also supported it.
Town officials mentioned that the design focuses on utilizing existing municipal infrastructure by placing the school next to the Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library, resulting in a combined community campus.
“This project is about making the smartest possible use of public infrastructure,” chief administrative officer Andrew Mc Neill said. “By integrating the school with existing municipal facilities and shared community amenities, we are maximizing value for taxpayers, reducing duplication, and ensuring public spaces are used to their fullest potential.
“It is a creative, forward-looking model for how fast-growing communities can deliver essential services sooner.”
Construction is set to carry on until 2028, with plans for the school and community hub to open in September of that year.
This initiative comes after years of advocacy by town leaders to establish a high school in Wasaga Beach. In 2023, council instructed staff to collaborate with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board to draft a proposal following earlier unsuccessful attempts to secure a secondary school.
The province revealed funding for this project in May 2024. The new school and community hub will have shared resources available for residents including the theater, athletic facilities, childcare space, and flexible learning environments.
<p“ This new School and Community Hub demonstrates what is possible when partners come together to deliver for our community,” said Far Sight Homes partner Bob Schickedanz. “Far Sight is proud to be part of this community, and our land donation reflects our long-term commitment to Wasaga Beach families and future generations.”
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