Construction is officially underway on a brand-new Catholic high school in Owen Sound.
The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board (BGCDSB) hosted a formal groundbreaking ceremony at the 28th Avenue East site to mark the start of construction on the project.
About 30 guests attended the event on Thursday, September 17, while students, staff, and area residents across Grey and Bruce counties were able to tune in via a live stream broadcast on the board's website.
The ceremonial milestone brought together school board leaders, educators, local partners, and public officials to celebrate the start of construction. The new building will serve as a modern replacement for St. Mary’s High School, which has reached maximum capacity amid rising regional enrolment.
"This is more than just the start of a construction project; it is the beginning of a vision and a continuation of our commitment to our community," said Lori Di Castri, Chair of the Board. "We are laying the foundation, both physically and literally, for generations of students who will walk our halls, form lifelong friendships, discover their passions, and prepare to make a difference in the world."
The occasion underscored strong community partnerships, spiritual blessings, and a joint vision for regional youth. Elder Shirley John of Saugeen First Nation opened the event with a traditional smudge, prayer, and song to invoke protection over the site and future learners. His Excellency Bishop Wayne Lobsinger then led a prayer of dedication, blessing the grounds.
Indigenous education partners played a key role in shaping the project. Jennifer Linklater, Post-Secondary Coordinator for the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Board of Education, alongside Mindy Gill Johnson, Education Administrator for Saugeen First Nation, commended the collaborative design efforts that ensure Indigenous traditions, history, and culture are meaningfully integrated throughout the new facility.
MPP Paul Vickers and Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy attended to highlight the decade of persistent advocacy needed to secure funding for the build.
In a symbolic gesture of unity, attendees poured soil collected from local feeder schools, St. Basil, Notre Dame, St. Joseph, St. Peter, and St. Paul, together with soil from St. Mary’s High School, into the site, merging their regional heritage into one common foundation.
The three-storey state-of-the-art high school will provide 1,012 student spaces when its doors to students upon completion, with an official ribbon-cutting targeted for 2028.
