Thames Valley has received funding approval from the Ministry of Education to construct a new $21.9 million elementary school in the Elgin County community of Belmont. The school will have space for 507 students and will consolidate enrollment from South Dorchester Public School, with students from Northdale Central Public School, River Heights Public School, Westminster Central Public School and Davenport Public School attendance areas.

Location / Attendance Area

• Belmont, Elgin County
• Along the south side of Seventh Avenue and west of Snyders Avenue 
• PDF map of new Belmont school attendance area
• Interactive map of new Belmont school attendance area

Timeline

• Expected Completion: 2026/27 school year, pending finalizing servicing solutions with the Municipality of Central Elgin. 

Project information

• Budget: $21,851,688
• Capacity: 507 students
• Architect: Pow Architecture

Project Status

UPDATED AUGUST 2024

• Approved to go to tender by Ministry of Education
• Finalizing servicing solutions with Municipality of Central Elgin

Design Committee

Thames Valley District School Board established a Design Committee to give the school community a voice in the schematic design phase of the process. Schematic design includes the general layout, basic concept drawings and understanding of project requirements and goals. The members consist of parent representatives, teacher representatives, Superintendents, Trustees and Capital Projects staff.

The New Belmont School Design Committee met several times since September 2022, and their final meeting took place on April 4, 2023.

Public Information Session

A virtual information session about the school and its design took place on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

Downloads

• Agenda (PDF)
• Site Plan (PDF)
• Floor Plans (PDF)
• Renderings (PDF)

Updates

August 19, 2024

New Belmont elementary school one step closer after approval to go to tender, more funding from Ministry

The Thames Valley District School Board can go to tender for the new Belmont elementary school following approval from the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry also announced an additional $9.8 million in funding for the new school to address construction market conditions.

Located at 235 7th Avenue in Belmont, the new $21.9 million elementary school will have space for 507 students.

“We’re pleased a new school for Belmont is one step closer to completion. This additional funding means we’ll be able to build the best school we possibly can in Belmont,” said Mark Fisher, Director of Education for TVDSB. “Once again we appreciate the Ministry’s dedication and flexibility.”

“Thames Valley's growth means many much-needed schools, including this on in Belmont,” said Board Chairperson Beth Mai. “For students and families in the area, this additional funding will make a big difference.” 

Trustee Meagan Ruddock, who represents Elgin County, said, "I am appreciative to the Ministry for this increased funding that will allow students to learn in their local community."

“This is another important investment in education for Elgin-Middlesex-London,” said MPP Rob Flack. “Belmont has a growing population coupled with strong economic growth, which is in line with what we’re experiencing in Elgin and Middlesex Counties. With that in mind, the Ontario Government is looking to continue to bolster the future of education. This year alone, we have invested more than $80 million in local education.”

Thames Valley will officially go to tender once it finalizes servicing solutions with the Municipality of Central Elgin.

Subject to that process moving forward in a timely manner, the new Belmont school should be open for the 2026-2027 school year.

 More details about the new Belmont school and other TVDSB construction projects can be found at www.tvdsb.ca/projects.

October 27, 2023

Land Update

Thames Valley has expropriated the school site and is in possession of the property. The developer is disputing the valuation of the expropriated property to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), which is their right under the Expropriations Act. There is no impact to the timing of construction of the new school as a result of these OLT proceedings as Thames Valley is the owner of the land.

October 23, 2023

Public Information Session postponed until interim servicing solution finalized

Update: A Public Information Session has been scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Please see the section above for details.

Thames Valley is working with the municipality to develop interim storm servicing solutions as development of the 6th phase of Craigholme Estates subdivision has not progressed.

The Municipality has initiated a petition under the Drainage Act that will allow TVDSB to obtain a temporary stormwater outlet. The Drainage Act is a very specific and prescribed process that involves the Municipality consulting with landowners,  hiring a third-party engineer to complete an assessment and taking a report to Council.

Once an interim solution is established through this process, Thames Valley will work on finalizing the school’s design and putting together a package to the Ministry so the project can go to tender. 

The Public Information Session for the school will be postponed until an interim servicing solution is finalized.

August 10, 2023

Thames Valley acquires land for future Belmont elementary school

Thames Valley District School Board has acquired land for a future elementary school in the Elgin County community of Belmont.

The land is located along the south side of Seventh Avenue and west of Snyders Avenue.

In March, the Ministry of Education announced an additional $3.4 million in funding for the project. The additional funding will allow the school board to increase the size of the school so that it will be able to accommodate 507 students.

The total Ministry funding for the project is $12.1 million.

The new Belmont elementary school will provide accommodation for students in Elgin, Middlesex, and London.

Staff plan to hold a community information session about the school this fall.

Pending Ministry approvals, the school is expected to be complete by 2026-27.

June 12, 2023

Space template approval received

Thames Valley District School Board has received space template approval from the Ministry of Education for the new Belmont elementary school.

As Thames Valley moves through the Ministry's Capital Approval Process and land acquisition phase over the next few months, we will be in a better position to provide completion timelines and schedule a community information session.

March 31, 2023

Ministry announces additional funding for new Belmont elementary school

The Ministry of Education has given Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) $3.4 million in additional funding towards the construction of a new elementary school in the Elgin County community of Belmont.

The additional funding will support TVDSB in increasing the size of the future school from 354 to 507 students. The total construction budget for the project is now $12.1 million.

“This is great news for Thames Valley,” said Mark Fisher, Director of Education for TVDSB. “We appreciate the Ministry’s responsiveness to the evolving needs of the school community, and its flexibility with regards to expanding the Belmont elementary school construction project. Our staff has been working hard to upgrade and add to our infrastructure to better serve students, families, and communities. We look forward to working with the Ministry and community partners on next steps for the new Belmont school, as well as other renovation and construction projects throughout the district.”

"When Minister Lecce was in Elgin-Middlesex-London last fall, we learned that the future Belmont elementary school would not have enough classroom capacity when opened," said Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. "I am very appreciative that our government and the Minister of Education responded so quickly to alleviate this potential problem. I continue to look forward to working with Director Fisher and the TVDSB in building the new Belmont school.”

The Belmont school construction project is currently in the land acquisition and design stage. TVDSB expects to finalize land for the project in the fall.

More details about the new Belmont school and other TVDSB construction projects can be found at www.tvdsb.ca/projects.

March 8, 2023

Project update

On January 31, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved the final steps towards the land expropriation process and possession is anticipated for fall 2023.  

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Project update

With the support of the Municipality of Central Elgin, TVDSB has been trying to secure land identified for a school from the developer of the Craigholme Estates subdivision in Belmont. This site has been identified for an elementary school through the Municipality’s planning process and is the most suitable property available for a school in the community. TVDSB has received approval from the Ministry of Education to acquire the site and Administration will be bringing a report to Trustees this fall with next steps.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

New school in Belmont announced

Thames Valley has received funding approval from the Ministry of Education to construct a new $8.7-million elementary school in the Elgin County community of Belmont. 

“From modernizing our curriculum to revitalizing our classrooms and their facilities, we are investing in our students and giving them every tool to achieve their full potential,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “Our financing of a new school in Belmont further demonstrates our government’s historic investment in Ontario’s schools and our overall commitment to supporting our students and families.” 

The school, with a capacity of 354 students, will consolidate enrollment from South Dorchester Public School, with students from Northdale Central Public School, River Heights Public School, Westminster Central Public School, and Davenport Public School attendance areas.

“This project is the result of invaluable community input, ongoing support from the Ministry of Education and our Thames Valley administration, whose tireless work helped make this school a reality,” said Board Chair Arlene Morell, one of two Middlesex County trustees. 

The original recommendation to build a new school in Belmont was approved by Trustees in May 2017 after extensive public consultation and research.

“We listened to our stakeholders and realized there was a need for a new school in the Belmont community. This school will foster an inviting learning environment and build on everything that this community has to offer,” said Meagan Ruddock, one of Elgin County’s two trustees. 

Environment Minister Jeff Yurek, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, made the announcement at an event on Thursday, June 25, at Confederation Park in Belmont.