It is official, the Town of Wasaga Beach has a high school. Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, and MPP for Simcoe-Grey, Brian Saunderson, delivered the good news on May 1 during a media event at the Town's new $60 million, twin-pad arena and library.
The Ontario Ministry of Education will fund a partnership proposal developed by the Town and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board that will build an innovative K-12 campus adjacent to the new Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library.
Future students of this new elementary school and high school will benefit from the Town's state-of-the-art arena and library facilities. All together, the K-12 campus will offer students a dynamic learning environment and offer residents a hub for education, sport and community engagement.
The project includes a new community theatre that students will have access to during the school day, which will be available to the Wasaga Beach community on evenings and weekends. This will fill a theatre facility void in the town and help support the growth of a strong arts and culture sector in Wasaga Beach.
Looking to the future, the Town has also established MOU's with Lakehead University and Canadore College that would see specialized programming delivered through the Town's twin-pad arena and library, and within shared facilities on this new K-12 campus. This specialized programming would be targeted to skilled trade professions in childcare, construction, healthcare and hospitality fields in addition to specific programming opportunities for adult and lifelong learning.
The County of Simcoe has also provided a letter of support to bring much needed child care facilities to the new school campus.
The new elementary and high school campus, and community theatre, is expected to open in 2027.
QUOTES
Andrew McNeill, CAO, Town of Wasaga Beach
"By leveraging $60 million of existing municipal infrastructure in the Town's 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. This collaboration demonstrates the power of partnerships and we believe it exemplifies what the province is looking to achieve with community hubs."
Shawn Cooper, Trustee for Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
"The Town of Wasaga Beach approached the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board with a partnership opportunity and we were certainly excited to develop this concept with them and submit it to the Ministry of Education for approval. We are always looking for innovative ways to partner with municipalities to deliver the best possible education for our students. We are thrilled that the Province and the Ministry of Education have selected this project to proceed. We look forward to getting shovels in the ground quickly."
Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey
"Wasaga Beach is a fast-growing community and I commend the Town of Wasaga Beach and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board for working together to develop an innovative project that will serve the needs of local families for generations to come. Funding this project in Wasaga Beach is one more example of our government's commitment to education, and to putting students first. Our government is investing about $15 billion over ten years to build new schools, improve existing facilities, and create new child care spaces."
Canadore College President and CEO George Burton
"Canadore College is leading the way in training people to fill the shortage of skilled workers in the communities it serves across Ontario and Canada. The trades provide stimulating and rewarding careers, and they can pay very well," said Canadore College President and CEO George Burton. "Students graduate from our trades programs with the skills industries require. We'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."
Dr. Linda Rodenburg, Interim Principal, Lakehead University's Orillia Campus
"Lakehead University is pleased to partner with the Town of Wasaga Beach to deliver accessible lifelong learning opportunities to youth and adult learners within the community of Wasaga Beach. We look forward to offering innovative community learning courses and lectures that support the interests and needs of the community."
Richard Schickedanz, President and Robert Schickedanz, Partner - FarSight Homes
"We are pleased to partner with the Town of Wasaga Beach, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and the Ontario government as we all work together to bring a K-12 elementary and high school campus, a child care centre and a community theatre to fruition - all long overdue."
QUICK FACTS
- Since taking office in November 2022, Council has been actively advocating for a high school at the county and provincial level, and it will continue to advocate at all levels of government on behalf of students and families in Wasaga Beach.
- Wasaga Beach is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario. The Town's current population is 25,000 residents, with projections indicating that this number will double by 2051.
- Wasaga Beach is currently the largest community in Ontario without a secondary school, and notably, the only community with a population exceeding 15,000 residents that lacks a high school.
- Approximately 1,000 high school-aged children are being bused outside of Wasaga Beach each day to attend elementary school and high school in neighbouring communities.
- Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board high schools are open-access, meaning any child is eligible to enroll.
- The new K-12 campus is expected to open its doors in 2027.
Additional Resources:
- Learn more about the Town's twin pad arena and library.
- Learn more about the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
- Learn more about Lakehead University.
- Learn more about Canadore College.
- Learn more about Simcoe County EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
