The Ontario government is investing $81.4 million to build three new schools in St. Thomas and Talbotville, a move that will provide families with more modern learning spaces and add over 180 new licensed child care spots to the region. This funding, announced on April 28, 2026, is part of a larger $1.6 billion provincial initiative to update school infrastructure across Ontario.
The project includes a $43.6 million replacement for Arthur Voaden Secondary School. The new high school will serve 703 students and include 88 licensed child care spaces. It will be the first new high school constructed in St. Thomas in more than 20 years. The existing Arthur Voaden Secondary School, which first opened in 1926, is set to close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. While the current building remains safe, officials determined that the extensive maintenance and infrastructure repairs required for the nearly 100-year-old facility are too costly. Discussions are currently underway with the City of St. Thomas regarding the potential future use of the school property.
In addition to the high school, the provincial funding covers two new elementary projects. A $22.2 million Talbotville Elementary School will be built for 412 students and provide 49 licensed child care spaces. A separate $15.6 million joint-use site will house the new École élémentaire publique St. Thomas, serving 262 students with an additional 49 licensed child care spaces. This project is a partnership between the Thames Valley District School Board and the Conseil scolaire Viamonde.
These investments arrive as St. Thomas and the surrounding Elgin region see significant population growth, partly fueled by the development of major local employment hubs. Local officials noted that this expansion of infrastructure is essential to support the rising number of families and students in the area for years to come.
