A major milestone was reached this week as the City of Chestermere joined partners from the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) and the provincial government to break ground on a new K-9 Catholic school in Dawson’s Landing.
The sod-turning ceremony, held on June 10, 2025, brought together students, families, educators, and local dignitaries to mark the beginning of construction on what will be a vital addition to Chestermere’s educational landscape.
The event opened with a land acknowledgment from CCSD Chief Superintendent Dr. Bryan Szumlas, recognizing Treaty 7 territory and emphasizing the importance of reconciliation. The Our Lady of Wisdom School Choir, led by Andrew Leal, shared musical performances, including a moving rendition of “O Canada”. Blessings were offered by Father James Hagel of St. Gabriel Parish.
Mayor Shannon Dean and members of City Council joined MLA Chantelle de Jonge in celebrating the moment. In his remarks, Mayor Dean highlighted the City’s commitment to supporting school development through better planning tools.
“This Council is committed to making sure that school sites are ready,” said Mayor Dean. “We’ve made changes to our Municipal Development Plan (MDP) so that school planning happens earlier in the process.”
The new school will provide much-needed classroom space for Chestermere’s population. Designed as a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility, the school will feature energy saving LED lighting, water-efficient systems, and EV charging stations, supporting both student learning and sustainability.
Construction is being delivered through a public-private partnership (P3) model, with EllisDon awarded the contract for design, build, finance, and maintain six schools across Alberta, including this one in Chestermere.
The school is expected to open in 18-24 months. As the project moves forward, details about the attendance boundaries and official name will be shared through the school boards public engagement processes.