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September 22, 2022 – Construction equipment, workers and materials at Brockville’s Westminster Public School can mean only one thing – modernization. The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) is pleased to officially announce that the multi-phase expansion project is physically underway.
With additional funding, the now $10,605,195 million project is an investment in providing enhanced learning spaces for students. This project will see an addition to the school’s gym, retrofit of existing classrooms, new child care rooms, and ventilation upgrades that also include air conditioning.
This addition and these enhancements at the school will complement the more than $5 million that has been invested in the school over the last decade, including major projects such as new kindergarten classrooms to accommodate full-day kindergarten, a chair lift to the second floor of the building, and new exterior enhancements such as a new front entrance canopy, replacement of roofing, windows, mechanical, electrical, bus lane and asphalt replacement creating a new and larger parking lot.
“This is certainly an exciting time for the UCDSB and the Brockville community,” says John McAllister, Chair of the Upper Canada District School Board. “To see the shovels in the ground encompasses our commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities along with equal and equitable learning spaces for all students to reach their full potential now and for the years ahead. Of course, this commitment would not be possible without the unwavering support and financial investment from the Ministry of Education and local Member of Provincial Parliament Steve Clark.”
The gym addition, which will benefit more than 350 students, will serve a multi-faceted purpose from physical education classes, ceremonies and performances. While the classrooms and existing spaces will be modernized to better foster student learning and wellness as the education landscape evolves. The project will also see the child care centre expand with the creation of two new rooms, which will accommodate 25 more child care spaces. Additionally, the courtyard and administrative offices will be updated to create a more welcoming environment for students and staff.
“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 gym addition at Westminster Public School, as well as investing in tutoring and mental health supports for the year ahead, we are getting students in Brockville back on track now and well into the future. We are excited to see the progress on this project as it comes along in development, so students can participate in the activities they cherish – like sports, clubs, and other extracurriculars.”
"I am pleased to see our government's continued commitment to our community and young people in the form of additional funding for Westminster Public School," adds Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. "I will continue to advocate for the support our students need to succeed and help our community grow."
This multi-phase project has a projected total completion date of August 31, 2023. During the gym’s construction and retrofitting of existing spaces, all safety measures will be taken to ensure student and staff safety and with support of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville that have provided access for construction vehicles from their property.
For media inquiries, please contact:
April Scott-Clarke
Manager of Communications
Upper Canada District School Board
[email protected]