PVNC Catholic to build new Bowmanville elementary school

Province invests nearly $27M for 43,237-square-foot school on Northglen Blvd.

May 17, 2024

Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board will be building a brand new Catholic elementary school in Bowmanville. 

During a press conference in Oshawa on May 17, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced  a nearly $27M investment for the 43,237-square-foot school, which will sit on a five-acre site at Northglen Blvd. and Middle Rd.

“Today’s announcement is great news for our community and demonstrates our Government’s committment to ensure children are able to learn and play in safe spaces that will help them to reach their full potential both now and into the future,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham

From left: PVNC Catholic Chairperson Kevin MacKenzie, Director of Education Stephen O’Sullivan, Whitby MPP Lorne Coe, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Durham MPP Todd McCarthy during the May 17, 2024 school funding announcement in Oshawa. 

The school is expected to open in September 2026 and will help alleviate local accommodation pressures, meeting a growing demand for Catholic education in Clarington. 

“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 Catholic elementary school for Bowmanville families, along with increasing funding, staffing and a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math skills to help ensure students graduate with confidence that they can succeed in good-paying careers.”

“This is great news for Clarington residents who have been eagerly anticipating this announcement. We look forward to seeing construction underway and the start of a new, thriving Catholic school community in Bowmanville,” PVNC Catholic District School Board Chairperson and Clarington Trustee Kevin MacKenzie said. 

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.

“It’s an exciting day when you can celebrate the announcement of a new school. I’m filled with a great sense of pride and privilege as I think about the generations of students, staff and families who will make this Catholic school community their own,” PVNC Catholic Director of Education Stephen O’Sullivan said. 

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.