A $7.6 million addition that includes six new classrooms as well as new childcare spaces was officially opened today at St. Louis Catholic Elementary School.
“Today marks a milestone in our community’s commitment to education,” said MPP Trevor Jones, Chatham-Kent-Leamington, who was on hand for the event at the Talbot Street school. “With the support of our provincial government and the Ministry of Education, we celebrate the completion of this addition at St. Louis. This investment reflects our dedication to providing quality education for all.”
The WECDSB received $3.4 million in funding from the Ministry of Education’s 2019-20 Capital Priorities Program and $1.6 million in Child Care Capital Funding Program to construct the six classroom addition and childcare spaces, which were designed by Architecttura Inc., and built by Front Construction Industries, Inc. of Windsor. The project was submitted by the Board as a Capital Priority request for expanding the dual track JK-5 school, which offers both English and French Immersion. Additional funding received from the Ministry in November of 2022 brought the total amount to $7.6 Million.
The six new classrooms, built on the west side of the school, will accommodate 147 students. The child care funding allowed for an expansion of two new pre-school rooms and a toddler room – to accommodate more than 60 additional children – which are expected to open in the near future.
WECDSB Area 2 Trustee Mary DiMenna, who represents the Leamington area, said the new addition meets the needs of a growing community.
“Leamington is a rapidly expanding community and in order to accommodate the increased growth, we require top quality facilities for those families who choose Catholic education for their children,” she said. “As you can clearly see, this new addition perfectly fits the description for ‘top quality’ and will be a wonderful location for our students to learn and grow for years to come.”
WECDSB Director of Education Emelda Byrne said the architects and contractors did a wonderful job of integrating the expansion into the existing building.
“Originally constructed in 1964, St. Louis has a long tradition of serving the students and families of Leamington, and with this addition, we will build upon that culture of educational excellence,” she said. “Along with our French Immersion program, the school is well known in the community for providing high quality, faith-based education, delivered by caring, supportive staff who will continue that tradition in this beautiful new expansion.”
The new addition to St. Louis represents a great achievement for Leamington according to Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of the Municipality of Leamington and Warden of Essex County.
“This considerable investment in the future of our children broadens our educational horizons and provides our community with exceptional English and French Immersion education and childcare services,” she said. “My heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. Here’s to a brighter, more inclusive future for our students and our municipality.”