Ontario Investing $18.8 Million to Build New School in Kemptville

New Kemptville Catholic elementary school will provide modern classrooms for 306 students and 73 childcare spaces for families in fast-growing community

Kemptville — The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its plan to protect Ontario and ensure students have access to modern classrooms by investing $1.6 billion in 79 school construction projects across Ontario. The investments will support growing communities by creating over 29,000 new student spaces and over 1,900 licensed childcare spaces so students have the modern learning spaces they need to succeed in their studies and prepare for in-demand careers.

As part of these investments, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, was at Holy Cross Catholic School in Kemptville today to announce Ontario is providing $18.8 million to build a new Kemptville Catholic elementary school in the growing community.

MPP Clark said this project will deliver 306 new elementary student spaces and 73 new licensed childcare spaces for local families in the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.

“This is an investment in the future of our children and it’s great news for students, families, and educators in our community. We’re creating a modern learning environment for educators to inspire and challenge students to reach their full potential and empower them to chase big dreams,” said MPP Clark. “I’ve been proud to deliver funding from our government to support the many infrastructure needs in the fast-growing community of North Grenville, including new schools for all four local boards of education.”

“Student success starts with having the right environment to learn,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We’re building the schools students need, and we’re making sure they get built quickly and on schedule. With stronger oversight and accountability through the Putting Student Achievement First Act, we are ensuring projects are delivered on time and focused on students, so that parents can be confident their children have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.”

“As part of our government’s historic capital plan, we are investing$236 billion in critical infrastructure to build and protect Ontario,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through these investments, we are helping deliver new and improved schools across the province to support students, local jobs and growing communities.”

MPP Clark was joined at today’s announcement by officials from the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands-Rideau Lakes MP Michael Barrett, Municipality of North Grenville Mayor, and Shannon Brown, Manager of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Children’s Services department.

“This investment represents a significant commitment to Catholic education in North Grenville. As our communities continue to grow, it is essential that we provide modern, welcoming learning environments that support students academically, socially, and spiritually,” said Chris Cummings, Chair, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario. “We are grateful to the Ministry of Education for recognizing this need and partnering with us to support families in Kemptville.”

“Our focus is always on meeting students where they are and ensuring they have access to high-quality Catholic learning environments close to home,” said Shelley Montgomery, Director of Education, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario. “With provincial approval and funding now in place, we can move forward with a new school that responds to enrolment growth in Kemptville and better supports students, families, as well as early learning and childcare needs in the community.”

“A school is so much more than a building – it becomes part of the heart of a community. Today’s announcement represents an investment in young people, in families, and in the future of North Grenville,” said North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford. “On behalf of council and the municipality, I want to thank the Province of Ontario, MPP Steve Clark, and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario for this crucial investment in our growing community. These new student and childcare spaces will support local families for many years to come.”

The Capital Priorities program supports the construction of new schools, permanent additions, renovations, and school purchases. This year’s funding will support a combination of new school builds, expansions, and retrofits across the province and is part of Ontario’s commitment to provide more than $22 billion over 10 years to support new school construction, renewal and improvements.

The new Kemptville Catholic elementary school will be located at a site to be acquired in Kemptville.

Quick Facts:

• In addition to the 67 projects approved for $1.3 billion in provincial support in 2025-26, there is also an additional close to $300 million in funding provided through the 2026-27 program to approve 12 priority projects that are ready to proceed.
• For the 2025-26 school year, the Ministry of Education continues to provide $1.4 billion to school boards to renew and improve schools.
• In April 2026, Ontario introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, that would, if passed, bring greater accountability, consistency and modernization to Ontario’s education system through new and enhanced measures to further support student success. The legislation also provides the ministry with stronger tools to intervene in the capital planning process when boards are unable to deliver projects in the best interests of students and educators.