The Alberta government is accelerating the construction of 11 announced school projects in communities including Calgary, Coalhurst, Donnelly, Falher Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie County, Lac La Biche, Red Deer, Strathmore, and Wetaskiwin. This initiative is part of the province’s $8.6 billion School Construction Accelerator Program, aiming to build over 100 new and modernized schools, creating more than 200,000 student spaces over the next seven years.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides emphasized the unprecedented pace of school construction, stating, “We are building more schools at a faster rate, never before seen in Alberta.” Infrastructure Minister Martin Long highlighted the commitment to providing high-quality learning environments, noting that accelerating school construction and expanding modular classroom capacity ensures families in growing communities have access to necessary educational spaces.The program also includes a $50 million investment to provide modular classrooms to 19 school boards, adding over 1,650 new and relocated student spaces in some of Alberta’s fastest-growing communities.
Local education leaders have expressed gratitude for the initiative. Shannon Cook, board chair of the Calgary Catholic School District, stated that advancing two high schools in the program is critical to ensuring students have access to quality education close to home. Laurie Huntley, board chair of the Golden Hills School Division, appreciated the approval of a new school to replace Westmount School in Strathmore, reflecting a shared commitment to providing modern learning environments for the growing student population.
This accelerated construction effort is a response to Alberta’s rapid population growth and the resulting strain on the K-12 education system, aiming to meet the needs of students and families across the province.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
