The Ontario government has announced two new francophone secondary schools will be built in Clarence-Rockland and Orleans, and an expansion at an English Catholic high school in Russell.
On Friday, June 7, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Stéphane Sarrazin announced the province will spend more than $62 million on the new schools.
“This announcement means a lot to the community—especially the francophone community,” Sarrazin said.
He noted that francophone students in Rockland have had to travel to francophone secondary schools in Ottawa or Casselman. When the new schools are complete, they will be able to study much closer to home.
“I think the community has been waiting for this announcement for a long time,” Sarrazin added.
Sarrazin also announced an additional $5.3 million will expand St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell.
The province has doubled funding this year to build new schools and expansions, including child care spaces. Sarrazin acknowledged it is a significant investment, but a necessary one.
“The residential growth is something we have to deal with. It comes at a price. It puts a lot of pressure on infrastructure, and we’re doing our best to provide that,” he said.
The new schools will create 414 secondary student spaces in Clarence-Rockland and 713 secondary student spaces in Orleans. The expansion at St. Thomas Aquinas in Russell will create 230 new student spaces.
An investment of $23.3 million is dedicated to build what will be École secondaire publique de Rockland. It will be located at Rue de l’Étang and Rue de La Berge in Clarence-Rockland.
In Orleans, the province will invest $39 million to build École secondaire publique Orléans Sud. It will be located at the corner of Mer Bleue Road and Renaud Road in Orleans.
