The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce that approval for two school renovation projects has been received from the Ministry of Education. The two projects totaling $14 million were submitted by the board as part of its annual Capital Priorities requests to the Ministry.
The two projects include a $10.3 million investment for a new 357 pupil place addition and other facility upgrades to Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, the board's regional all-girls school and a $3.7 million investment for a 184 pupil place addition to St. Cornelius Elementary School in Caledon East.
"We are thankful to the Ministry of Education for its partnership in allowing us to move forward with these much needed building projects," said Mario Pascucci, chair of the board of trustees. "This investment at Holy Name of Mary is much anticipated and long awaited by the community. It will certainly enhance the learning and working environment at the school and, I can say on behalf of all trustees, as a regional school, we are eager to move forward with this project."
Holy Name of Mary is a regional school represented by all trustees of the board; however, the school is physically located in Brampton's Ward 8, represented by Brampton trustee Shawn Xaviour who said, "I echo the chair's words on receiving this good news from the Ministry. The addition and upgrades to the school will be welcomed warmly by the school community, in particular, those students currently in elementary schools who may be considering Holy Name of Mary as their secondary school destination."
The Holy Name of Mary project is anticipated to be completed in 2020.
The St. Cornelius project is also welcomed news for the community and Caledon/Dufferin trustee Frank Di Cosola, who said, "On behalf of the St. Cornelius community, I, too, offer my gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its approval of these projects. As a parent, I know we all want the best educational environment possible for our children and the addition at St. Cornelius is great news for our community in this regard."
Completion of the St. Cornelius project is tentatively scheduled for the start of the 2019-20 school year.
Next steps for both projects includes the selection of architects to further refine the scope and schedule for the work. More details will follow regarding the work at both schools as timelines are established.
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School located at 115 Glenvale Boulevard in Brampton is the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board's regional all-girls secondary school. It has an enrolment of approximately 759 students in grades 9-12.
St. Cornelius Elementary school is located at 16066 Innis Lake Road in Caledon East. It has an enrolment of approximately 689 students in Kindergarten-Grade 8.