Alberta gov’t announces acceleration of 41 school projects—16 in Calgary

Calgary will see 16 school projects bumped ahead to their respective next phases.

For 11 of them, that means moving into full construction.

Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s education minister, made the announcement on Thursday morning.

He said a total of 41 school projects across the province will be fast-tracked.

Representatives from both of Calgary’s major school districts were present for Thursday’s announcement.

Laurie Hack, Calgary Board of Education chair, said the public district “is grateful.”

Hack said the project accelerations “will ensure progress is sustained on the delivery of much-needed modern learning spaces across all quadrants of the city.”

She said among the CBE’s projects getting a push is “the modernization of Annie Gale School” in the northeast.

She said that one is “an important investment into aging infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Lory Iovinelli, Calgary Catholic School District chair, said the separate board “is pleased.”

Iovinelli said “proposed K-9 schools in Walden and Carrington” will “advance to the design (and) funding stage” with Thursday’s announcement.

She said the projects “will help address the needs of two growing communities.”

She said it also moves the CCSD “one step closer to providing the learning space that students and families are counting on.”

Schools, now

Thursday’s announcement comes as a result of the Schools Now program.

The UCP government initiative was started in 2024.

In addition to Calgary’s 16 projects being fast-tracked, Edmonton will see 11.

Nicolaides said that includes “new elementary and high schools, school additions and major modernization and replacement projects across several school boards.”

Airdrie, Brooks and Chestermere will also see new schools advance.

Red Deer, Beaumont, Sherwood Park, Morinville, St. Albert and Wetaskiwin will see new and upgraded spaces sooner.

Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Fairview will likewise see key upgrades and replacements.

All told, Nicolaides said, the projects “will create or modernize more than 39,000 student spaces.”

He said by accelerating them, it cuts “more than nine months off of their timelines.”

He said that “makes a real difference.”

Urgent, still

Both of Calgary’s major school district chairs said learning space remains tight.

And both said it’s only getting tighter.

“As of today, 160 CBE schools are full or overcapacity. We have an overall utilization rate of about 95 per cent,” Hack said.

“Our high schools are even more under pressure, operating at an average of 107 per cent capacity.”

“Many of our schools are already at or near capacity,” Iovinelli said.

“And district-wide utilization is expected to exceed 100 per cent by 2030, even with projects under construction or in development.”

At Thursday’s announcement, Nicolaides said Alberta schools “have welcomed more than 90,000 additional students.”

He said that’s “due to record-high immigration and population growth.”

And he said that has “put significant pressure on our education system.”