Ontario provides nearly $1 million in additional funding for new public school in Brockville, Ont.

The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) announced on Friday that the Government of Ontario has provided nearly $1 million in additional funding for the new Swift Waters Elementary School in Brockville, Ont..

The funds will cover costs that have arisen since the project began.

“It’s adding to the already amazing schools Upper Canada has in Brockville," said Sarah Stone, the future principal of Swift Waters Elementary School.

"I think it shows that a small community like Brockville is worth investing in education, and I think it tells our parent population this is an amazing place to live and have your children grow up." 

Changes to below grade seismic building codes, unknown below grade rocks and removal of excess site soil are some of the unique site costs that have been identified, according to the school board.

Swift Waters Elementary School is scheduled to open this fall, and the UCDSB says the funds from the province will help maintain that timeline.

This is the first public school being built in Brockville since 1973. The UCDSB says the school will have solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations.

Students from Commonwealth Public School and Toniata Public School will attend Swift Waters, once they both close in June.

The new school will be a single-story building with a capacity for 504 students, and the UCDSB expects to have roughly 440 students enrolled by the time it opens.