HAMILTON-WENTWORTH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Ontario Government Approves Gym Expansion at Rosedale Elementary School

As part of Ontario's ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, the province has provided the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board with approval to construct a gymnasium addition at Rosedale Elementary School. This is supported by an investment of $3 million.

Once completed, this project will deliver a new gym and renovated learning commons for local families. The investment is part of the Ontario government's commitment to providing approximately $15 billion to support school construction, repair, and renewal over 10 years. Since 2018, the government has approved nearly 200 school construction projects and the development of more than 300 child care and education building-related projects, of which more than 100 are actively under construction.

"The funding for a new gymnasium at Rosedale Elementary School in Hamilton is great news for our community," said Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. "This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead."

Additionally, Ontario is taking action to ensure that school board capital assets are used effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of growing communities, support student learning and ensure value for taxpayer dollars. The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act will empower decision-makers to build modern schools faster by better utilizing school capacity, reducing barriers for school boards to facilitate agreements for schools in multi-use buildings, and shortening planning time by requiring school boards to use certain designs or plans when constructing, renovating, or making additions to schools.

 "We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. "We are proud to deliver this critical expansion at Rosedale Elementary School for Hamilton families, along with increasing funding, staffing and tutoring to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers."

Highlights of the project include:

• New gymnasium addition
• Renovated learning commons

"Under Premier Ford's leadership, we're building more state-of-the-art schools to support the needs of Ontario's students, families and growing communities. By investing in innovative and modern learning spaces, we're ensuring students have access to the quality education that will provide them with lifelong skills and education in a safe and healthy environment," said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. "These investments are one of the ways we're delivering on our promise to build Ontario, with an infrastructure budget of more than $148 billion over the next decade."

"We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for approving the use of HWDSB's Proceeds of Disposition for the long-awaited Rosedale gymnasium expansion and learning commons renovation. This is welcome news, for students, staff, and families at the school who have continued to advocate for the expansion project," said Dawn Danko, Chair of Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

"A gymnasium is a significant space in a school, used to promote physical activity and learning, bring students together, and build school community. As we move forward with plans to construct the new expanded gym, Trustees are pleased that staff and students will soon benefit from this much-needed facility improvement."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested over $2.2 billion in capital projects in education, including 100 new schools, 88 additions and renovations to existing facilities and nearly 6,500 new licensed child care spaces.
• For the 2023-24 school year, the province is providing school boards with approximately $1.4 billion in funding to revitalize and renew aged building systems and components.
• In April 2023, Ontario introduced The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act that will ensure the public education system focuses on what matters most: important life-long skills such as reading, writing and math; improve accountability and transparency for parents and families; and build schools faster while better utilizing current school spaces to get more classrooms into communities that need them.

In March 2022, the Governments of Canada and Ontario signed a $13.2 billion agreement that will lower child care fees in stages for families, delivering an average of $10 a day child care by September 2025.