New E.J. Sands Public School in Thornhill moves forward after project delays

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 13, 2021

The city recently approved a new site plan submitted by the York Region District School Board to rebuild E.J. Sand Public School in Thornhill.

Thornhill Coun. Keith Irish said the recent development marks an important milestone in seeing a new two-storey school built on the site previously occupied by both Woodland Public School and the old E.J. Sand.

Construction is set to begin in the next few months.

Originally slated to open in September 2021, the project was delayed after an ancestral Huron-Wendat Village was discovered on the southern portion of the site.

Through positive dialogue with the Huron-Wendat Nation, the school board shifted placement of the school slightly north to respect the discovery of the village and ongoing excavation of the site.

Irish was also happy to report that negotiations between the city and the school board have resulted in the conveyance of 2.02 hectares (5 acres) of land to the city for parkland, as well as the 1.3 hectare (3.2 acre) woodlot at the east end of the site.

Until the revised opening date, E.J. Sand P.S. will continue to run out of the former Holy Family E.S.