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Downtown school to be transformed into Hamilton community hub

Plans are well underway for a community hub and elementary school following the closure of Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School.
Plans are well underway for a community hub and elementary school following the closure of Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School. HWDSB

The Hamilton Public School Board and six partners have agreed to explore and design a community hub in downtown Hamilton.

The project will take place on the eight-acre site where Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School currently sits. The school will close in June of 2019.

It will provide residents with access to a range of programs and services such as education, social services, recreation, housing and health-related services.

“Following the 2012 decision to close Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School, our current board of trustees was faced with a difficult decision regarding the future of this eight-acre site in our downtown core,” said school board chair Todd White.

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“Rather than abandoning our presence, our board was determined to reinvest and imagine a greater potential for the area. Through consultation with partners and with community feedback, trustees have uncovered a vision that didn’t seem possible a few short years ago.”

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The project is contingent on Ministry of Education approval for a new elementary school, which is expected in January or February 2018.

The partners include the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Community Foundation, Hamilton Health Sciences and the YMCA.

“Our vision for a community hub in downtown Hamilton begins with a focus on the child’s education,” said Manny Figueiredo, director of education. “Student learning and achievement is enhanced when families can access the necessary services that support their well-being. We thank the partners for their continued collaboration and support in providing greater access to programs and services that meet the needs of families.”

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In the next six months, HWDSB will finalize capital requirements and the services each will offer.

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