Families in Port Colborne will see increased access to local schools and child care following a provincial funding announcement on May 15, 2026. The Ontario government is dedicating $78.1 million to the District School Board of Niagara to support the construction of one new school and the expansion of three existing facilities across the region.
As part of this investment, Oakwood Public School, located at 255 Omer Avenue, will receive $17.2 million for an expansion project. This work will provide 199 new spaces for elementary students and add 49 licensed child care spots to the community.
The funding addresses a growing need for educational infrastructure in Port Colborne, which has seen its population increase by nearly 10 percent over the last five years. Projections indicate that the city could grow by an additional 13,000 residents in the coming 10 to 15 years, putting further pressure on local services.
Niagara West Member of Provincial Parliament Sam Oosterhoff announced the funding at Glynn A. Green Public School in Fonthill, alongside DSBN trustees, staff, students, and local officials including Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele. When all four projects in the region are finished, the provincial investment will create a total of 897 elementary student spaces, 506 secondary student spaces, and 108 licensed child care spaces.
