The Manitoba government is building a new school in the Devonshire Park neighbourhood of Winnipeg to support a growing community of young families, Premier Wab Kinew and Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced on February 10.
"Investing in our kids by giving them new schools with the best educators will set them up for success in the future," said Kinew. "This is an investment in the future of Manitoba - in kids, in families and in this great community."
The new kindergarten to Grade 8 school on Devonshire Drive West will also include 74 infant and preschool child-care spaces. It will address an 11 per cent growth in student population in the River East Transcona School Division since 2019 and will respond to the projected enrolment growth in the coming years, noted the minister.
"Our government is focusing on building schools as we're seeing rapid increases in enrolment in growing communities across the province," said Schmidt.
"After a decade of advocacy from the board of trustees and with unprecedented growth within our community, the announcement of a new school in the Devonshire area marks an exciting milestone for River East Transcona School Division," said Colleen Carswell, board chair, River East Transcona School Division. "We look forward to partnering with the province to meet the needs of our students and families. Together, we are building more than a structure; we are creating a space where future generations of students will learn, grow and prepare to become skilled, inspired and responsible citizens."
The new school location will best serve the needs of students in the community, noted Schmidt, with design work beginning in the coming months and an anticipated construction start date in early 2026 and targeted opening date of September 2027.
"This new school with attached child care is much needed and long overdue and very much appreciated," said Loan Duong, local resident and mother of two children. "I personally am excited for the day the doors open and I can walk my two children into their new school. Thank you to the Manitoba government for making this happen for our community."
The investment in major capital projects is supported by a nearly five per cent increase in school funding for 2025-26 with specific allocations to support school divisions with higher needs including higher enrolment, said the minister.
"This year's funding increase goes beyond the rate of inflation and is consistent with last year's funding increase, giving school divisions confidence in stable funding to help them best allocate their budgets," said Schmidt. "Like in many other areas of life, students benefit from predictability and will benefit in the other key areas we're making investments in through this year's funding, giving them the support they need to succeed."
The revamped funding formula for the 2025-26 school year continues the priorities established in last year's funding, with a funding increase of $67 million. School funding includes the following support:
- $53.1 million in operating costs for public schools;
- $30 million for nutrition programming, in addition to the federal government's commitment of $6.7 million, for a total of $36.7 in nutrition funding for 2025-26;
- $6 million for capital support, which includes principal and interest costs related to building schools;
- $7.8 million to independent schools as per their funding agreement;
- an additional five schools participating in the Community Schools Program; and
- reconstituting the stakeholder advisory committee on school funding.
For more information on school funding, visit https://edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/finance/schfund/index.html.
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