Construction is officially underway on Wasaga Beach's first high school and community hub.

Representatives from the Town of Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Province of Ontario, and community partners gathered last week to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the new campus at 486 River Road West.

"Today is about action, partnership, and results for Wasaga Beach families," said Mayor Brian Smith. "Council knew our kids deserved access to high school here at home, and we took a different approach to help make that happen. By working directly with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and the Province of Ontario, we helped advance a smarter, more practical proposal that gets shovels in the ground and doors open sooner. This project is a powerful example of what can be achieved when municipal, provincial, education, and private-sector partners work together to put students and families first."

The town says the project reflects a proactive, made-in-Wasaga Beach approach led by Town Council in partnership with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Rather than waiting for a traditional school project to move forward on its own, the town and school board advanced a practical proposal that uses existing municipal infrastructure beside the Wasaga Stars Arena and Wasaga Beach Public Library.

That approach helped secure provincial funding for the town's first high school faster.

The high school has been designed as a K–12 school. It will provide 1,008 student spaces, 49 licensed childcare spaces, a 300-seat community theatre, track-and-field facilities, shared learning spaces, and opportunities for post-secondary and continuing education through partnerships with Canadore College and Lakehead University.

The project is supported by a total investment of $70.1 million, including $67.3 million in provincial funding and a $2.8 million contribution from the Town of Wasaga Beach for theatre enhancements that will expand opportunities for students and residents. The School and Community Hub was also made possible through a significant land donation from Far Sight Homes.

"This project is about making the smartest possible use of public infrastructure," said Andrew McNeill, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Wasaga Beach. "By integrating the school with existing municipal facilities and shared community amenities, we are maximizing value for taxpayers, reducing duplication, and ensuring public spaces are used to their fullest potential. It is a creative, forward-looking model for how fast-growing communities can deliver essential services sooner."

Construction is now underway, with the school and community hub expected to welcome its first students and community users in September 2028.

Wasaga Beach is currently the largest municipality in Ontario without an operating high school and one of the fastest-growing communities in the province.

A second high school is also on the way for Wasaga Beach. In January 2025, following decades of advocacy, the province also announced more than $59.3 million for a Simcoe County District School Board high school, creating 1,145 additional secondary student spaces and further expanding local access to high school education in Wasaga Beach.

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