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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Alberta Unveils $26 Million Independent School Construction Initiative
The Alberta government has announced $25.8 million in funding for construction and expansion projects at five independent schools across the province. This marks the first time independent schools in Alberta will receive public capital funding for infrastructure through a dedicated pilot program. The initiative comes as part of a three-year, $90 million provincial commitment to support private school construction efforts.
Details of the Independent School Capital Program
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides revealed Monday that six projects at five schools have been selected for the grants. The program is designed to cover up to one-third of the capital cost for each project, capped at a maximum of $10 million per project. Previously, independent schools in Alberta were responsible for all their own construction costs.
Minister Nicolaides described the move as an "extraordinary step" in response to marked growth in student enrolment across Alberta's education system. Enrolment in independent schools increased by 27 percent from 2021 to 2025, reaching 49,884 students, while the overall student population in the province grew by about 12 percent during the same period.
Funding Recipients and Project Breakdown
The distribution of the $25.8 million in school construction grants is as follows:
- Edmonton Islamic Academy: $10 million toward a new $80-million elementary school.
- Bearspaw Christian School (Calgary): $1.8 million for one expansion project and $6.1 million for another.
- Third Academy (Calgary): $666,667 for a modular expansion serving students with specialized education needs.
- Khalsa School Calgary: $3.3 million for a project focused on Sikh-perspective education.
- Lighthouse Christian Academy (Sylvan Lake): $4 million toward a new school building.
Together, these expansion and construction projects are expected to add 3,500 new student spaces. The minister did not provide a timeline for when all the construction would be completed.
Demand Outpaces Funding
The independent school capital program received applications from 35 school authorities for 40 different projects totaling requests of $182 million—significantly more than the funding available. Nicolaides stated that priority was given to "projects that were ready to build, cost efficient, created more student spaces, or served students with exceptional needs."
The funding pool is part of a broader commitment by the Alberta government to invest $8.6 billion in school infrastructure by 2032, which includes plans for building 90 new schools and modernizing or replacing another 24.
Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders
The funding announcement has drawn a variety of responses. John Jagersma, executive director of the Association for Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta, noted that independent schools—especially faith-based ones—are experiencing increased demand, long waitlists, and pressure to expand. He stated that these projects could help "absorb enrolment growth that would otherwise add to demand for public school spaces," offering cost savings to the larger education system.
However, some advocacy groups and education sector leaders expressed concern. Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, argued that public funding should be directed toward public school systems and called Alberta an outlier for its level of funding of independent schools. Schilling also said that delays in public school construction have left many public and Catholic schools overwhelmed.
Wing Li, communications director for Support Our Students Alberta, questioned the transparency and accountability of funding independent schools, which can select their student intake and may not offer the same public guarantees as traditional public school divisions. Li cited the risk of instability if a private operator closes and suggested public divisions are a more cost-effective way to manage education growth.
Future of the Program
According to Minister Nicolaides, the government will continue accepting independent school construction funding applications in 2027 and 2028. Projects that did not receive funding in the current round may apply again in upcoming cycles. He did not specify the program's future beyond 2028.
Source: cbc.ca.
