Province approves expanded new school for Markdale

The provincial government has approved an expanded new Beavercrest School in Markdale.

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers announced on Feb. 7 that the province has granted $6.9 million in additional funding to build a larger school in Markdale.

In 2018, the government approved $6.4 million in funding for a 236-pupil school in Markdale, with a further $2.1 million in funding for childcare spaces. In 2020, the government granted further approval of $320,245 for the Bluewater District School Board to acquire land for the project.

Early in 2022, the school board submitted a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting a scope change to the project to increase the number of pupil spaces at the proposed new school.

“It is evident that the planned 236-pupil school will have insufficient capacity to accommodate the current and future students in the area,” board staff stated in a report on the matter.

The province has now upped its commitment by $6.9 million bringing the total to just under $15.5 million. The new school will have 328 student spaces and 39 childcare spaces. It will also feature two new childcare rooms and a two-room EarlyON and Family Centre

“The funding for the new school in Markdale is great news for our community,” said Byers. “This investment will ensure families and students have access to a quality learning environment in the years ahead.”

Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen was elated by the news.

“This is fantastic news for the community of Markdale and Grey Highlands. It’s great to see. Working with the Bluewater District School Board has proven that by working together we could build a new school, with the cooperation of Devonleigh Homes," said McQueen in a statement. "Thanks to Ministers Lecce and Surma for supporting the new school and Premier Doug Ford who visited Markdale in 2019.  It has been great working with our local MPP Rick Byers who delivered this wonderful news."

School board director of education Lori Wilder said the board is happy to see the project moving forward.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this latest update so that the Beavercrest Community School replacement build project can move forward,” said Wilder. “Thank you to the Ministry of Education for continuing to recognize the need for a new school in Markdale by approving our board’s request for a project scope change. We are excited to get shovels in the ground and see this project transform from concept to reality so that we can support area students as they learn and grow in an amazing facility.”