Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The Town of Wasaga Beach celebrated a major milestone for local students, families, and residents as the Province of Ontario provided an additional $4.5 million in funding and authorized the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board to proceed with issuing the construction tender for the Town’s first high school and community hub.
“The approval to issue the tender is another important step toward opening Wasaga Beach’s first high school — a long-awaited milestone for local education and a clear commitment to helping students learn, grow, and succeed right here at home,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “The Town, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and Province have worked hand-in-hand to move this project forward with a shared vision. Together, we are building more than just a school — we are creating a true community hub with modern learning and recreation spaces, licensed childcare, post-secondary opportunities, and a 300-seat theatre that will benefit students, families, and all residents across Wasaga Beach.”
The project is supported through a total investment of $64.9 million, including $62.2 million in provincial funding and a $2.7 million contribution from the Town of Wasaga Beach toward theatre enhancements that will expand opportunities for students and residents.
The project will deliver 1,008 new student spaces, 49 licensed child care spaces, and shared amenities, including a 300-seat theatre and a track-and-field facility.
The new school will be the first high school built in Wasaga Beach. It will serve as an important community hub, supporting student learning while expanding opportunities for residents through shared spaces for learning, recreation, and the arts. It will also support local families by keeping more students in the community and eliminating daily out-of-town commutes for approximately 800 high school students.
“Wasaga Beach continues to grow, and this project is a strong example of what can be achieved when local and provincial partners work together with a shared focus on the future. The new Wasaga K-12 campus and community hub is an innovative investment that will support local families and strengthen the community for generations. Our government is proud to help move this important project forward as part of Ontario’s ongoing commitment to putting students first and building the infrastructure communities need,” said MPP for Simcoe Grey, Brian Saunderson.
Located at 486 River Road West, beside the Town’s new twin-pad arena and public library, the K-12 campus will help create an integrated community hub that will leverage existing municipal infrastructure and support community use beyond school hours.
Construction is expected to begin this spring, and doors are expected to open in September 2027.
“It is exciting to witness what can be accomplished through partnership and innovation – this Kindergarten to Grade 12 Catholic school will serve to bring the Wasaga Beach community together through shared opportunities. This project will include a community theatre, shared library space and joint use athletic field, which will benefit our students and the Town’s residents. We are thankful for the Ministry of Education’s continued support of this important and unprecedented project for our board,” said Kimberly Dixon, director of Education, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
Wasaga Beach is currently the largest community in Ontario without a secondary school, and notably, the only community with a population exceeding 15,000 residents that lacks a high school.
The Ministry of Education first committed $57.7 million for the project in May 2024 after the Simcoe County District School Board ranked the school as their second priority during annual submissions.
Featured image: (Salter Pilon Architecture)
