Two new public schools coming to Whitby

Whitby is set to see two new public schools in the next few years which will open up nearly 1,300 student spaces.

Whitby MPP Lorne Coe, Alax MPP Patrice Barnes and Education Minister Steven Lecce were in town today to announce a $53.9 million investment in the Maskell Crescent and Coronation Road Public School and the new Cisco Drive and Limoges Street Public School.

The first is set to go into a rural area in the north end just off Taunton Road and the newly toll-less Highway 412. The second will sit about four kilometres south off Des Newman Drive.

Both of these areas of town are expected to see significant growth in the coming years. Each is home to new, ever-expanding neighbourhoods. Durham Region is expected to double in population to nearly 1.5 million people in the next 25 years.

As such the town has invested heavily in these areas including making Des Newman Boulevard home to the new Whitby Health Centre.

Additionally, a site just north of the Maskell Crescent school was selected to host the new Whitby Hospital, set to be the only trauma center between Kingston and Toronto. However, even after three budgets, the province has neglected to fund a $3 million planning grant to start the process despite heavy local pressure.

“Building new public, catholic, and francophone schools is a top priority for me and hard-working families in Whitby,” Coe said in the announcement, “These two state-of-the-art schools will address the growth in the student population in West Whitby, allowing for thousands of Whitby students and their families to access quality education and childcare closer to home.”

In total the Doug Ford government has built three other schools to Whitby with two complete. The additionally schools announced today are expected to open in 2026.