District School Board of Niagara is pleased to share that, with approval from the Ministry of Education, it will acquire the former École élémentaire Champlain building.

The building and 6.65 acres site located at 101 Afton Avenue in Welland is expected to close on November 29, 2023. The DSBN purchased the building and land from Conseil scolaire Viamonde as a proactive response to growth in the Welland area.

“We did not want to miss this exciting opportunity,” said Sue Barnett, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Our pre-emptive planning puts us in an excellent position to best serve students and families in Welland.”

Welland has the third largest population in the Niagara Region. The city has been growing over the last three census periods (15 years) with the last census period (2016-2021) seeing the largest population increase. This trend is expected to continue as future residential developments and planned areas are constructed.

Given the ongoing and planned residential developments, student enrolment is expected to continue growing, increasing capacity pressures in Welland schools. This data, outlined in DSBN’s Long-Term Accommodation Plan, was a key factor in the decision to acquire the building which opened in 1954 as Afton Public School.

“Our government is determined to build schools and expansions faster in rapidly growing communities, which is why we supported the District School Board of Niagara when it acquired the former École élémentaire Champlain building in Welland,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. “Ontario is providing school boards with record funding and working with them closely as we update the curriculum and bring in a back-to-basics focus on reading, writing and math skills that will prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.”

“We appreciate the support of the Ministry of Education,” said Warren Hoshizaki, DSBN Director of Education. “When the site became available, DSBN seized the opportunity as a proactive measure. In the coming months, our Board will work on the process for the best use of the building. The end result will benefit students, staff, families and community members. Ultimately, they are the ones impacted and our decisions are always made with their best interests in mind.”