RAINY RIVER – As part of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to build and improve local schools, MPP Rickford and Minister Lecce were onsite to recognize the start of construction on the Rainy River District School Board’s all-new Rainy River JK-12 School to create more student and child care spaces. This is supported by an investment of $30.2 million.
Once completed, this project will deliver 311 spaces from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 and 39 licensed child care spaces for local families. The investment is part of the Ontario government’s commitment to providing approximately $15 billion to support school construction, repair, and renewal over 10 years.
“Our government remains committed to improving access to quality education and providing choice and flexibility for the hardworking families of Rainy River,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora – Rainy River. “We continue to prioritize community infrastructure that bring new opportunities for future generations, making Northwestern Ontario one of the best places to live, work and play.”
Additionally, Ontario is taking action to ensure that school board capital assets are used effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of growing communities, support student learning and ensure value for taxpayer dollars. The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act will empower decision-makers to build modern schools faster by better utilizing school capacity, reducing barriers for school boards to facilitate agreements for schools in multi-use buildings, and shortening planning time by requiring school boards to use certain designs or plans when constructing, renovating, or making additions to schools.
“We are determined to build schools and expansions faster, part of our commitment to modernize schools in fast growing communities,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “We are proud to deliver a new, state-of-the-art Rainy River JK-12 school for Rainy River families, along with increasing funding, staffing and tutoring to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers.”
Highlights of the project include:

• 311 new student spaces
• 39 new child care spaces
• 2 new child care rooms
• 1 new EarlyON Child and Family Centre

“This Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 school, with an attached Childcare Center and Early ON Center fulfils the final step in providing quality Education, Childcare and Family Supports across the Rainy River District,” said Dan McCormick, CAO, Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board. “Our Childcare and Early ON system is bolstered by this new facility and our ability to attract qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to a viable career with equitable wages and benefits enhanced. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of the Province of Ontario, the Honourable Steven Lecce, Minister of Education and our local MPP, the Honourable Greg Rickford for their continued investment in education at all levels across the Rainy River District.”
“We are so grateful for the Ministry of Education and the Ontario government’s support for this project and for the Town of Rainy River’s partnership in this exciting endeavour,” said Jeff Lehman, Chair, Rainy River District School Board. “The new consolidated school, which includes an EarlyON Centre and child care spaces, furthers our commitment to providing high quality academic programming and enhanced opportunities for both our students, their families, and our local communities.”
“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, we’re building more state-of-the-art schools to support the needs of Ontario’s students, families and growing communities. By investing in innovative and modern learning spaces, we’re ensuring students have access to the quality education that will provide them with lifelong skills and education in a safe and healthy environment,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure. “These investments are one of the ways we’re delivering on our promise to build Ontario, with an infrastructure budget of more than $148 billion over the next decade.”
Rainy River JK-12 School will be located on Government Road in Rainy River.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Curtis Lindsay
curtis.lindsay@ontario.ca

Photo credit: Tom Thomson