The Ontario Ministry of Education has approved funding in the amount of $4,561,933 for purchase of an eight acre parcel of land on the Rapids Parkway in Sarnia.  The site will be the location of St. Clair Catholic’s new elementary school.

“This is tremendous news for the Gregory A. Hogan and Sacred Heart Catholic school communities in Sarnia,” says Deb Crawford, Director of Education.  “We believe this is the perfect location for our new Sarnia school.” 

Funding for the new facility, which was announced in January 2018, will be used to construct a new French Immersion school, to accommodate the ever-growing population currently housed at Gregory A. Hogan.  With the transition of French Immersion students to the new school, the Sacred Heart population will move to the facility at Gregory A. Hogan.  As a result, both school communities will occupy facilities that are the right size for their school populations. 

“Our Government is committed to providing students with modern learning environments and that is why we are supporting this new elementary school here in Sarnia,” said Ontario’s Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “This investment builds upon our ten year $12B commitment to invest each and every year to build new schools, upgrade existing ones, and expand child care so that our kids learn in safe, accessible, and technologically connected schools.”

The new school will also include a child care centre with 88 child care spaces.

“On behalf of our entire Board, I want to thank the Ministry of Education for this tremendous announcement,” says John Van Heck, Chair of the Board.  “We are grateful for the Ministry’s tremendous support for this important project, which will benefit two of our Sarnia elementary school communities.”

“This is an important first step in the process towards completion of a brand new Catholic school in Sarnia,” says Amy Janssens, Associate Director – Corporate Services and Treasurer.  “We look forward to keeping our communities updated as the project moves along.”