Ontario Investing $67 Million to Construct and Expand Three Hamilton-Area Schools

Funding will see more classrooms, more daycare spaces and a brand new Catholic high school for Binbrook

January 28, 2025

NEWS

Flamborough-Glanbrook – The Ontario government is investing $67 million to build a new high school in Binbrook and expand elementary schools in Stoney Creek and Hamilton. 

The investment includes $52 million to build the new Binbrook Catholic Secondary School which will create more than 1,000 student spaces at a site to be acquired.

“Binbrook has experienced unprecedented growth and students and parents in my riding deserve to have access to a quality learning environment close to home,” said Donna Skelly, Flamborough-Glanbrook MPP. “Through this investment, our government is addressing critical needs in growing areas of Hamilton to provide students with modern learning spaces to help them achieve success.”

The Ontario government is also providing funding to expand elementary student space and child care spaces at the following schools: 

  • St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, 24 Amberwood St., Stoney Creek – $6.9 million to create 141 elementary student spaces and 49 new licensed child care spaces.
  • Janet Lee Elementary School, 291 Winterberry Drive Stoney Creek – $7.8 million to create162 elementary student spaces and 88 licensed child care spaces.

These projects are part of $1.3 billion in funding to build new schools and expansions, including child care spaces, announced as part of the Ministry of Education’s Capital Priorities Program.

“As a mother, I understand that the local school really is the heart of the community. It’s so important for young families to have a school that’s close to home,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “Our government is proud to deliver a new Binbrook Secondary School and  new additions at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and Janet Lee Elementary School for local families, along with increasing funding, staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math to help ensure students graduate with the fundamental skills they need to succeed.” 

The ongoing investments in education and child care projects will result in over 25,000 new student spaces and more than 1,600 licensed child care spaces at school sites across Ontario.

Schools and child care centres are an essential piece of the community landscape. Funding these local infrastructure projects demonstrates that the government is meeting urgent needs to address growth related to demographic changes and housing development.

“Our government is investing in new schools and improved infrastructure across the province to support the needs of Ontario’s students, families, and growing communities.” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These are part of our historic investment of more than $190 billion over the next ten years to build and deliver the critical infrastructure Ontarians deserve today, and for future generations to come.”

Quotes

“We are extremely pleased and grateful to receive the great news of the award of significant Capital funding in support of the construction of a new Binbrook Catholic Secondary School and 141 pupil place addition and three-room Childcare Centre at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School.  On behalf of the Catholic school communities that will benefit from these much-needed projects and our Board of Trustees, I would like to express deep appreciation to MPP Donna Skelly.  Her strong support and effective advocacy were instrumental to today’s historic announcement.”

  • Patrick Daly, Chair, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.

Quick Facts

  • Ontario is meeting the needs of growing communities with over 200 new schools and additions underway that will create over 97,000 pupil spaces in the coming years.
  • .
  • The investment is part of Ontario’s commitment to provide about $16 billion to support new school construction, renewal and improvement over 10 years.
  • In December 2023, the Ministry of Education announced Ontario’s plan to help build schools faster through a transparent, accountable and more efficient process. School boards were encouraged to standardize the design of new school construction, identify opportunities to work together on joint-use school projects and bring forward shovel-ready proposals.
  • The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023 ensures the public education system focuses on what matters most: teaching important life‑long skills such as reading, writing and math; improving accountability and transparency for parents and families; maximizing capital assets of boards to support building modern schools faster and better utilizing current school capacity.
  • The government is committed to providing families with more affordable and accessible child care as part of the federal government’s national child care program. Effective January 1, 2025, Ontario has capped child care fees at $22 per day for families with children in programs enrolled in the Canada‑wide Early Learning and Child Care system.