Ontario Investing $29.9 million to Build New School in Barrie
May 8, 2026
Students will benefit from new, modern classrooms that prepare them for good-paying stable careers
BARRIE – The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its plan to protect Ontario and ensure students have access to modern classrooms by investing $1.6 billion in 79 school construction projects across Ontario. The investments will support growing communities by creating over 29,000 new student spaces and over 1,900 licensed childcare spaces so students have the modern learning spaces they need to succeed in their studies and prepare for in-demand careers.
Locally, the province is investing $29.9 million for a new replacement Warnica Public School to create more student spaces in a growing community. This project will, when complete, deliver 665 new elementary student spaces for local families in the Simcoe County District School Board.
“The funding for a new replacement Warnica Public School in Barrie is great news for our community,” said Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie—Innisfil. “Through this investment, we’re creating opportunities for students to thrive well into the future.”
The Capital Priorities program supports the construction of new schools, permanent additions, renovations and school purchases. This year’s funding will support a combination of new school builds, expansions and retrofits across the province and is part of Ontario’s commitment to provide more than $22 billion over 10 years to support new school construction, renewal and improvements.
“Student success starts with having the right environment to learn,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Education. “We’re building the schools students need, and we’re making sure they get built quickly and on schedule. With stronger oversight and accountability through the Putting Student Achievement First Act, we are ensuring projects are delivered on time and focused on students, so that parents can be confident their children have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.”
“As part of our government’s historic capital plan, we are investing $236 billion in critical infrastructure to build and protect Ontario,” said Todd McCarthy, Acting Minister of Infrastructure. “Through these investments, we are helping deliver new and improved schools across the province to support students, local jobs and growing communities.”
“We are grateful for this investment by the Ministry of Education for a 665-pupil place replacement school for Warnica Public School in Barrie,” said Dawn Stephens, Director of Education. “This investment will alleviate utilization pressures at the existing school and ensure that Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) students continue to have access to high quality modern learning environments for years to come,” said Dawn Stephens, Director of Education of Simcoe County District School Board.
The new Warnica Public School will be located at 211 Warnica Road in Barrie.
Quick Facts
- addition to the 67 projects approved for $1.3 billion in provincial support in 2025-26, there is also an additional close to $300 million in funding provided through the 2026-27 program to approve 12 priority projects that are ready to proceed.
- April 2026, Ontario introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, that would, if passed, bring greater accountability, consistency and modernization to Ontario’s education system through new and enhanced measures to further support student success. The legislation also provides the ministry with stronger tools to intervene in the capital planning process when boards are unable to deliver projects in the best interests of students and educators.