OTTAWA — Ontario is directing $162 million toward building two new schools and expanding another in the rapidly growing Ottawa region, the provincial government announced Friday, marking one of the largest recent capital investments in local education infrastructure.
The funding forms part of a broader provincial plan to open or expand 12 schools across Ontario, supported by a 10-year, $23-billion commitment to build, renew and modernize educational facilities. The Ministry of Education says the investment is aimed at ensuring students have access to safe, contemporary learning environments designed to support long-term achievement.
“By building and expanding schools across the province, we’re making sure students can learn in modern, high-quality environments that support strong achievement,” said Education Minister Paul Calandra. “These investments will help students gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed and prepare for rewarding careers.”
The Ottawa projects reflect immediate pressures on local boards, where enrolment continues to climb in suburban communities such as Barrhaven and Orléans. According to the province, construction could begin as early as spring 2026.
The government’s plan includes $77.7 million for a new Half Moon Bay Secondary School, to be built on Cambrian Road in Barrhaven under the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). The Grade 7–12 school will offer space for 1,474 students, addressing overcrowding in an area experiencing sustained residential development.
A second major project will see $74.7 million directed to a new Mer Bleue high school within the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Located on Brian Coburn Boulevard in Orléans, the new facility will accommodate 1,439 students and is intended to serve families in one of the city’s fastest-growing suburban corridors.
The province is also investing $9.7 million to expand l’École élémentaire publique Mamawi, operated by the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO). Of that total, nearly $1.6 million comes from the federal-provincial Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction. The addition will create 104 student spaces and 39 licensed child-care spaces, supporting both French-language education and local childcare needs.
Local officials welcomed the announcement, citing urgent demands for new student capacity.
“Together, we can build learning environments that meet the needs of every student. Today’s investment shows that our government is committed to supporting families in our community with modern, accessible learning spaces,” said George Darouze, MPP for Carleton. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Minister and our local school boards to move these projects forward, ensuring that students in Carleton and all across Ottawa have every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.”
The OCDSB, which will oversee the largest of the three Ottawa projects, emphasized the impact on long-term enrolment planning.
“By securing funding for this modern, high-quality facility in Barrhaven, along with other capital investments, we ensure our outstanding principals and dedicated teachers have the very best environment to deliver on the fundamentals of education to achieve student success and well-being,” said Bob Plamondon, the board’s supervisor.
Board officials say the new secondary school in Barrhaven will ease crowding and improve learning conditions. “This significant investment from the Ministry of Education for a new secondary school in Barrhaven is critically important,” said Stacey Kay, OCDSB director of education. “It will directly address overcrowding in one of our fastest growing communities, ensure sustainable capacity for the future, and provide our students with modern, high-quality learning environments.”
The Ottawa Catholic School Board echoed similar themes regarding growth in Orléans.
“The Ottawa Catholic School Board is excited to announce a significant investment by the province in a new Catholic high school for the Mer Bleue community,” said Mary Donaghy, the board’s director of education. “This project aims to address the area’s rapid growth and will provide students with a modern learning environment that is close to home. The school will be designed to support innovative, faith-based and future-focused education.”
CEPEO officials said the Mamawi expansion fills a vital need for French-language families. “We thank the Government of Ontario for funding the expansion project of l’école élémentaire publique Mamawi,” said Christian-Charle Bouchard, the board’s director of education. “This investment will allow us to increase our capacity, improve learning spaces and provide environments even better suited to the needs of our students and the Francophone families in the region.”
The province notes that the Capital Priorities Program continues to fund school construction, additions and renovations, and that annual school renewal funding for 2025–26 remains set at $1.4 billion.
