Students in the Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright constituency will soon have more desk space as the provincial government rolls out seven new modular classrooms to combat rising enrolment.
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The announcement, made April 29, is part of a larger $200-million provincial investment in Budget 2026 to deliver 189 modular units across Alberta. Locally, Irma School will receive three units, while Wainwright Elementary and St. Jerome’s Catholic School in Vermilion will each receive two.
Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, said the investment is a necessary response to the province welcoming more than 80,000 new students over the last three years.
“These modular classrooms will provide appropriate, well-designed learning spaces while helping schools respond to growing enrolment,” Rowswell said in a statement.
The modular units are designed to be built and installed within eight to 12 months — a significantly faster timeline than traditional school construction. Officials confirmed the new units will be ready for the upcoming school year.
Kara Jackson, board chair for Buffalo Trail Public Schools, welcomed the news for the Wainwright and Irma communities.
“We are grateful that the Minister heard our concerns and responded with a commitment that reflects the value of education in Irma and Wainwright,” Jackson said.
In Vermilion, East Central Alberta Catholic Schools board chair Derek Collins echoed that sentiment, noting the approval reflects a provincial commitment to ensuring quality learning spaces at St. Jerome’s School.
The provincial government attributed the enrollment pressure to record interprovincial migration and federal immigration policies. The current modular program is part of the broader $8.6-billion “Schools Now” initiative, which aims to create or modernize 200,000 student spaces by 2032.
There are currently 161 public school projects underway across the province.
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