Ontario Invests in a New Elementary School in Orillia

Announcement today by MPP Dunlop December 13th/21 – Ontario Building a School in Orillia

The investment will support access to quality education opportunities for working families.

The Ontario government is investing $9 million to build a new Orillia Elementary School to help working families in the region. This investment in the Simcoe County District School Board, announced by Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, will support the creation of 334 student spaces as part of the Ford Government’s commitment to building modern, accessible, and technologically connected schools for Ontario youth.

The project is part of a provincewide investment of more than $600 million to support new school and child care spaces that were recently announced by Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. The overall investment will support 78 school and child care related projects. As part of this investment, the province dedicated more than $565 million to create more than 19,700 new student spaces and 1,500 child care spaces at schools across the province.

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made safer schools a priority, which is why we continue to invest in modern and accessible learning spaces with improved ventilation,” said Minister Lecce. “This investment is part of our multiyear plan to build, expand, and update schools and child care spaces across our province. It will leave a lasting legacy that benefits working families for years to come.”
The investment is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to provide $14 billion to support school construction over ten years. There are currently more than 300 child care and education building-related projects in development across Ontario with more than 100 actively under construction.

“The new Orillia Elementary School is great news for our community,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “This investment will provide choice and flexibility for families and new opportunities for the children of Orillia.”
Ontario’s investment in new and updated schools will create the foundation for a modern learning environment for hundreds of students across the province.

Highlights of the project include:334 elementary student spaces.

“This announcement is great news for our board and the City of Orillia,” said John Dance, Director of Education SCDSB. “We continue to put forward strong business cases for new schools and expansions, and have been fortunate to receive funding for numerous capital priorities in recent years. We appreciate that the Government of Ontario has recognized this need in Orillia, and look forward to working with city staff and community partners on the development of the new school.”

The Ontario government has allocated more than $600 million to support ventilation improvements in schools across Ontario as part of its plans for a safer return to school. The Simcoe County DSB has benefited from an investment of $14.6 million for ventilation improvements and has 360 HEPA filter units in place.

The new Orillia Elementary School will be located in Orillia.

“As Orillia is experiencing significant growth, it is important that we have relevant infrastructure in place to accommodate our growing neighbourhoods,” said Orillia Mayor, Steve Clarke. “Having a school in this neighbourhood will allow access by foot and bicycle and at the same time reduce our carbon footprint. The City is very appreciative of the Province’s investment in this needed project.”

On November 4, the province released the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario. The plan lays out how the government will build the foundation for Ontario’s recovery and prosperity by getting shovels in the ground on projects like new schools and child care.