The government is building a new kindergarten-to-Grade 5 school to replace École Saint-Henri in Moncton.
A recent assessment determined the mid-life upgrade and addition planned for the school would be costlier and take longer than a new build.
"As Moncton continues to grow rapidly, we must continue to expand our education infrastructure to accommodate that growth," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Claire Johnson. "In the case of École Saint-Henri, a new school just makes more sense. It can be a modern, energy-efficient building that reflects the last six decades of changes in teaching and learning, and provides a comfortable, reliable place for children to learn, play and thrive."
École Saint-Henri was built in 1965, making it over 60 years old. Enrolment has increased to 497 students as of Oct. 1, 2025, from 314 students in 2021; this represents a 58 per cent increase over four years.
"The construction of a new Saint-Henri school marks a very positive turning point for this school community," said Michel Côté, chair of the Francophone sud school district education council. "This project will provide our students with a learning environment that aligns with their reality, needs and potential, while strengthening the vitality of a rich, diverse and forward-looking francophone environment. This is extremely encouraging news for families and staff, and, most importantly, for students."
After having $50.1 million approved for a mid-life upgrade and modernization as part of the 2024-25 capital budget, the six-year project began with an assessment of the space needs of the school. The assessment found the upgrades would have required five to six years of work, which would be more complex, expensive and disruptive than building a new school.
"I'm very pleased that we are giving the children of this area a brand new school," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson. "Retrofitting was going to cost more and take longer than building a new structure on the same property, so I look forward to making sure the design and construction phases now proceed smoothly."
The new school will be significantly larger to accommodate the substantial increase in students and to meet current school planning standards. As well as classrooms, it will have space for a gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms and project areas, a music room, a performing arts space, resource rooms and support spaces.
