A new elementary school is being constructed in west Lethbridge for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Construction underway for new west Lethbridge elementary school

Apr 30, 2025 | 1:43 PM

The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is celebrating the start of construction on its new K-6 school.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 30, in the Crossings neighbourhood at 451 Caledonia Blvd. West.

Superintendent Chantel Axani says the population in Lethbridge, particularly on the west side, continues to grow quickly.

“We need this space, we need this school,” says Axani. “This is a beautiful area of Lethbridge, and we are very excited to be able to open the doors for our K-6 and in close proximity to our high school.”

The Division reported a 4.35 per cent increase in enrollment at the start of this school year, or about 234 students.

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Board Chair Carmen Mombourquette says the new school will help to alleviate capacity pressures on their other schools, especially Father Leonard Van Tighem School.

“That school has been past full for too many years, and we run it as a Kindergarten all the way to Grade 9 school, which is a wonderful way for children to be able to learn and be able to grow in their faith, as well as be able to grow in their knowledge of the world, but the school is simply too full,” says Mombourquette.

The school will initially hold about 400 students, but it is designed with future portable additions in mind.

For now, Mombourquette says it will be large enough to cool overcrowding from a “boiling point” to a “simmering point.”

He adds that, for the most point, this will be a fairly standard elementary school, but he is excited for the opening gathering spaces, which Mombourquette describes as “a place for family, a place for gathering, a place where faith can grow with the children that are going to attend there.”

Students will utilize the existing Crossings playground, but school officials may use their allotted playground budget to make a few additions.

The school construction project is estimated to cost $18 million. It is expected to open in August 2026.

The Division expects to finalize its new boundaries to accommodate the upcoming school by this June.

READ MORE: St. Francis Junior High to be modernized or replaced, planning funds announced

A new elementary school is being constructed in west Lethbridge for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

A new elementary school is being constructed in west Lethbridge for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

A new elementary school is being constructed in west Lethbridge for the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

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