PVNC Catholic breaks ground on new Bowmanville Catholic elementary school

The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Catholic elementary school in Bowmanville during a ceremony on June 14, 2024.

Peterborough Bishop Daniel Miehm and St. Joseph pastor Fr. Craig Cruikshank offered a prayer and blessed the five-acre site at Northglen Blvd. and Middle Rd., which come September 2026, will be home to a 43,237-square-foot school.

“As we know, schools are more than just bricks and mortar, they are community hubs that bring people together. They are the backbone of our thriving neighbourhoods,” said Kevin MacKenzie, PVNC Catholic Chairperson and Clarington Trustee. “Today marks a significant milestone for our community here in Clarington. As Chairperson of the PVNC Catholic District School Board and a proud representative of Clarington, I am thrilled to witness the groundbreaking of this new Catholic elementary school.”

Clarington Deputy Mayor Granville Anderson and local city councilors joined in the celebration alongside PVNC Catholic trustees Jenny Leahy and Mary Ann Martin and Board staff.

“Starting a new school community is a unique and exciting journey. It is an opportunity to lay the foundation for a vibrant, inclusive environment where students, staff, and families can grow and flourish,” said Stephen O’Sullivan, PVNC Catholic Director of Education. “This new school will be a place where lifelong memories are created, where students are nurtured in their faith, and where the values of Catholic education are lived out daily.”

During a press conference in Oshawa on May 17, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced a nearly $27M investment for the Northglen Blvd. school, which once built will help alleviate local accommodation pressures, meeting a growing demand for Catholic education in Clarington. 

The Board will be undergoing a boundary review in Clarington beginning in the fall of 2024 to determine the catchment area for the new school. Once that process is finalized, the Board will establish a naming sub-committee to consult with the new school community and education partners and bring a selection of potential school names to the Board of Trustees for a final decision.

Quick Facts:

• The anticipated opening date is September 2026.
• The school will house 493 students from kindergarten to Grade 8.
• The 43,237-square-foot building will include four kindergarten classrooms, 16 regular classrooms, a special education room, a resource room, a three-room childcare centre and regular school facilities such as a gymnasium and learning commons.
• The school will be a feeder school to St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School in Bowmanville.
• Parkspace adjacent to the site will provide a natural extension for outdoor activities and learning.