Community Centre Partnership

Community Update – February 2024

The Township of Oro-Medonte and Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) partnership has followed a dynamic and evolutionary path since 2017, towards the establishment of a new shared elementary school and community centre located at 739 Horseshoe Valley Road, adjacent to the Horseshoe Valley Memorial Park.

Elementary School Component

The elementary school with accommodation for 570 students will include:

• 3 kindergarten classrooms
• 11 regular classrooms
• 2 resource rooms
• learning centre
• library; and
• full-size gymnasium (high school sized).

The new elementary school will ensure quality education for area students, and also supports growth of the Horseshoe Valley area.

It is anticipated the Province of Ontario will make further announcements with additional details regarding the elementary school as the project progresses.

Community Centre Component

The community centre will share a full-size gymnasium (high school sized) with the elementary school, and also includes the following amenities:

• full locker/changeroom with showers;
• multi-purpose programming space suitable for both active and passive recreation activities;
• administrative space to accommodate other municipal services; and
• considerations for future phased development of 11,150 ft2 to accommodate the potential addition of a fitness center.

On-site preliminary earthworks have started, (i.e. movement of soil forming a component of site preparation) and a significant amount of activity will be taking place at the site over the coming months.

As the project progresses, construction activities will be confined to specific areas of the site, with the existing forest and trail system preserved as much as possible for continued enjoyment of the community. To ensure safety of residents and neighbours, the Township and SCDSB ask for your cooperation and patience throughout the construction process. Please avoid construction areas which will be identified by fencing and signage. 

We look forward to sharing additional details with the community as the project progresses.

Background Information

The Township's Strategic Facility Plan completed in 2010 provided a long-term strategy for the provision of recreation and community projects. One of the recommendations coming out of the plan was to look towards a new 7000 square foot community centre in the Horseshoe Valley Corridor. Planning for the new community center was built into the Township's long-term financial plan (budget).

More recently, the lack of recreation infrastructure was identified in the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, further confirming the need for investment in a new community center. Over the past number of year’s, the Township has experienced significant growth and changes in local demographics which have created pressures for public services.

In 2017, through planning discussions with the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB), an opportunity to pursue a potential partnership for a joint elementary school/community centre presented itself. Since this time, the Township and SCDSB have been working in partnership, including establishing necessary agreements and addressing various project complexities.

On September 29, 2023, the Province of Ontario announced support to move forward with issuance of a tender for the project. This marked a significant step forward to seeing this important initiative through to fruition.

At the December 20, 2023, Township of Oro-Medonte Council meeting, Council received staff report OCS2023-22 which provided an update on the project and tender results. Council approved the current project budget of $8,180,159 and endorsed the award of tender to Remo General Contracting. The SCDSB and Township jointly awarded the project tender in early January 2024.

The partnership with the SCDSB optimizes the use of public resources, and will be managed through explicit capital and operating agreements which will ensure the success of the joint venture.