The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) is pleased to be receiving $21.4 million from the Ontario Government towards the construction of a new K-6 replacement school building in Kenora. The funding was announced on April 30th, 2026, by Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, on behalf of Paul Calandra, Minister of Education, as part of the Ontario Government's 2025-2026 Capital Priorities Program.
Completion of the new school building will replace Kenora's Valleyview Public School and accommodate approximately 400 pupils with new educational spaces. Nearly $2 million of the total funding will support the development of an additional 3-room childcare centre within the new school, offering 49 licensed childcare spaces in Kenora.
"The funding to build a new replacement elementary school in Kenora is absolutely fantastic news. This is something we have been hoping for and working toward for many years, and to see this vision becoming a reality is incredibly exciting." said Roger Griffiths, Chair of the Board at KPDSB.
"We are so grateful and excited to see this project coming to fruition," commented Chantal Moore, Acting Director at KPDSB. "We are thrilled for our students and staff, who will have the opportunity to learn and teach in a modern, inclusive, and engaging environment designed to support student achievement and well-being. The new school will be such a wonderful addition to the community of Kenora, and will enable us to offer students and families enhanced learning and childcare spaces within welcoming, safe, and supportive teaching and learning environments."
Preliminary construction and site preparation for the replacement school may begin as early as 2027. KPDSB looks forward to the completion of a school that best supports their vision statement of Mino-bimaadiziwin living a good life/achieving dreams in mind, body, and spirit for students.
This funding is part of the Ontario Government's provincewide-investment supporting major capital construction programs. The programs aim to help build modern schools with additional childcare spaces, providing safe and accessible learning opportunities for students. Since 2018, the Capital Priorities Program has supported the construction of 209 new schools and over 11000 new childcare spaces in schools across Ontario.
