Caledon East to get new public school: Province commits $19.4 million to replace building

By Zachary Roman

Caledon East will be getting a new public school thanks to an investment Town of Caledon Councillor Nick deBoer said is forward-thinking and will match the community's growth.

On April 25, Ontario's Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, met with Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson and Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones at Caledon East Public School to announce a $19.4 million investment that will see the school replaced with a brand-new one fit for 650 students.

The new school will also have 73 licensed child care spaces.

Also on hand for the announcement at the Kindergarten to Grade 8 school were Caledon Councillors Nick deBoer, Jennifer Innis and Christina Early, Peel District School Board (PDSB) trustee Stan Cameron, Caledon East Public School principal Phil Hepworth; and PDSB associate director Jaspal Gill.

Lecce spoke at the announcement and said it was amazing to see how people came together to get Caledon East a new public school.

“The advocacy started with Sylvia Jones, full stop. So, the gratitude should be extended to her for her hard work to get this done,” said Lecce. 

“I know there's about 2,000 more folks moving in, homes being built in this immediate area, let alone what's already here. So, this is needed yesterday and will benefit families tomorrow. It's a $19 million investment, it's one of the largest provincial investments in school building in Ontario for this round — I think it demonstrates our commitment to families in this community and across the GTHA.”

Jones said the announcement of a school that includes child care spaces is amazing, thrilling and planning for the future of a growing Caledon.

PDSB trustee Stan Cameron said he was so excited and happy for Caledon East residents because of the announcement.  

“This new building will serve many thousands of public school supporters from within the Caledon East community and beyond for many years to come,” said Cameron. “As we leave the school property, may I encourage everyone… to glance across Airport Road where you will see that the construction has begun on one of the two very large-scale housing developments in this school's boundary — 668 homes directly across the road, 220 homes just a little bit down the hill… but within the school's boundary are about to come out of the ground.” 

Thompson thanked everyone who came to the announcement for their support in getting the community of Caledon East a new public school.

He praised both Jones and Cameron for their strong advocacy and hard work in getting funding secured for the new building.

“We found the need, gave you the data and you delivered. So, thank you so much,” said Thompson, addressing Lecce and Jones.

Councillor Innis explained that her kids go to Caledon East Public School, she went to it, her parents went to it, and even her grandparents and great grandfather went to it (when it was at its old location where Foodland is now).

“This school means a lot, not only to my family, but the community. It really is the heart of the community. It's where our families come together,” said Innis. “The pressures that the community has been facing with growth? This makes it easier to live with because we really want our children to go to school here, we want them to play here, we want them to be in sports teams here and to be connected.”

“On behalf of the families of Caledon East, I want to say a very, very big thank you. This means more than you could ever imagine to those families because it really does build a community,” Innis added.

Councillor deBoer said communities need to be planning ahead of when demand comes, and the building of a new school for Caledon East is a good example of just that.

“Governments have to start to look at building stuff before rather than after. Communities just can't exist and can't grow and can't get to know each other if they don't have the facilities in place,” said deBoer.