New Wasaga Beach high school to offer skilled trades programs

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A unique elementary and secondary school will be built on a shared site in the Town of Wasaga Beach.

An MOU signed with Lakehead programming University and Canadore College will allow programming delivered through the Townโ€™s twin-pad arena and library, and within shared facilities on the new site. Programming will be targeted to skilled trade professions in construction, childcare, healthcare and hospitality.

โ€œCanadore College is leading the way in training people to fill the shortage of skilled workers in the communities it serves across Ontario and Canada,โ€ said Canadore College President and CEO George Burton. โ€œThe trades provide stimulating and rewarding careers, and they can pay very well.

โ€œStudents graduate from our trades programs with the skills industries require. Weโ€™re pleased to collaborate with the Town of Wasaga Beach, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and our post-secondary partners, to provide programming that will benefit students pursuing a career in the trades.โ€œ

The Ontario Ministry of Education will fund a partnership proposal developed by the town and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board to build an innovative K-12 campus adjacent to the new Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library.

wasaga bay school image“This unique project will deliver more than additional elementary school capacity, a childcare centre and a community theatre for Wasaga Beach,โ€ Mayor Brian Smith in a press release. โ€œIt is the first high school in the history of our community, and it is long overdue.โ€

The project includes a new community theatre that students will have access to during the school day, which will be available to the community on evenings and weekends.

โ€œBy leveraging $60 million of existing municipal infrastructure in the new twin-pad arena and library, we are able to deliver an expanded range of community uses, save money for tax-payers, and deliver a K-12 school for our community at a more affordable price for the school board,โ€ said CAO Andrew McNeill. โ€œThis collaboration demonstrates the power of partnerships and we believe it exemplifies what the province is looking to achieve with community hubs.โ€

Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

I accept the Privacy Policy