Last Updated - May 21, 2025
The closure of Downsview Airport in 2024 has led to the development of the new Downsview Secondary Plan, which aims to accommodate 115,000 new residents and 52,000 workers in the Sheppard Avenue West and Keele Street area over the next 30 years. This growth will necessitate the construction of several new schools, guided by detailed District Plans that will be rolled out in three phases.
The Downsview West District Plan was officially submitted to the City of Toronto in January 2025. As part of this effort, the Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) Land Use Planning Team has been collaborating with the Canada Lands Company (CLC), the landowner, to establish a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) elementary school in this district. TLC has also provided feedback to City of Toronto staff, highlighting the importance of creating a well-connected and walkable neighbourhood for future students and residents.
TLC has identified a specific mixed-use block that could potentially host a school within the podium of a building, along with an adjacent outdoor play space that meets TDSB requirements. Additionally, TLC is exploring existing buildings in the district that could support a K-8 program for 731 students, along with an 88-space childcare facility. Recently, TLC staff visited the Centennial College campus to draw inspiration for the adaptive reuse of a similar building.
This week, TLC staff updated their Board of Directors on plans to conduct further due diligence on potential school sites within the Downsview West District. TLC’s next step will be to draft a Memorandum of Understanding with CLC by the end of 2025, allowing for the development of school space. The timeline for establishing the new school aligns with the completion of the new district, which is anticipated for the 2033-34 school year.