On March 24, 2026, provincial officials announced new funding to build more classrooms and update existing schools in Red Deer, Alberta, to help local families find space for their children. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides joined other representatives to share plans that aim to reduce waitlists and address the city’s growing population.
The plan includes a major update for École Oriole Park Elementary through Red Deer Public Schools. Funding is also being provided to Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools to start planning for more student spots in the community.
These projects are part of the $8.6 billion Schools Now program, which is working to create 200,000 student spaces across the province by 2032. The government is responding to a large increase in the number of children in the province, with about 80,000 new students starting school over the last three years.
In northeast Red Deer, work is moving forward on a new middle school in the Timberlands area that will fit 600 students. According to the provincial government, building a new school usually takes between three and five years to move from the early planning stages to finished construction.
This announcement is part of a larger plan in Budget 2026 to start 40 different school projects across the province. These investments are designed to make sure students have enough room to learn as more people continue to move into the local area.
