Ontario Government Building New School in Whitby - St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School Now Open

Posted On Thursday October 07, 2021
News SMD
Exterior of school

As part of Ontario's ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the province provided Durham Catholic District School Board $11.5 million to build the new replacement building for St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School. The construction of the new building at the existing Whitby site is now complete, and the school opened this September for the 2021-22 school year. 

This will provide a new, quality learning environment for the students of Whitby, as well as Before and After School child care and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre. This project is part of the province’s capital investment program to support students with better learning spaces. 

“The funding for this new school is great news for our community,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby. “This investment will provide a quality learning environment and new opportunities for the children of St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School.”

Ontario’s investment in new and updated schools will create the foundation for a modern learning environment for hundreds of students across the province. 

By investing in our province's schools, we are supporting students right across Ontario and giving them every tool to achieve their full potential,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “The new St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School will significantly expand the school, add new child care spaces and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre, that will support state-of-the-art learning spaces and affordable childcare for families in Whitby.” 

Highlights of the new school construction include: 

  • 323 elementary student spaces.
  • 24 new licensed child care spaces.
  • 1 new child care room.
  • An EarlyON Child and Family Centre. 

“We are thrilled to be back,” said Morgan Ste. Marie, Chair of the Durham Catholic District School Board. “We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for the investment in this 21st century Catholic school that meets the needs of our students and future generation of learners in the growing Whitby community.” 

The new St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School is located at the site of the former school, at 250 Michael Boulevard.

Quick Facts:

  • The Ontario Government is working with school board partners to invest in capital projects that advance safe and accessible learning opportunities for students. 
  • To create new opportunities for Ontario’s families, the government is investing up to $1 billion to create up to 30,000 new child care spaces in schools over five years. 
  • Over the next ten years, the Ontario government is investing $14 billion in capital grants, including allocating $550 million in 2020-21 for new schools, additions and major renovations. 
  • This massive investment will build new schools and help existing schools after a decade of closures and maintenance backlog. 
  • Ontario has announced additional funding of $25 million to further improve ventilation in schools as students return for in-person learning this fall. This additional funding brings the net new investments in school ventilation to $600 million. 
  • The province is also providing school boards with a historic $1.4 billion in funding to renew and maintain existing schools. 
  • This funding could be used to replace aging heating or air conditioning systems, repair roofs and windows, and install important accessibility features like elevators and ramps.

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For more information

Shannon Thornton-Weir, Executive Assistant
Lorne Coe, MPP Whitby
Lorne.coeco@pc.ola.org
905-430-1141