The Alberta government has announced significant funding to expedite the construction of three Calgary-based educational facilities, marking a substantial step forward for local communities. Premier Danielle Smith and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides revealed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that these projects will be fast-tracked through the provincial School Construction Accelerator Program.
Accelerating Educational Infrastructure
Four previously announced school projects across Alberta—three in Calgary and one in St. Albert—will now advance from planning stages directly into design or construction phases. This acceleration is made possible by the provincial government's School Construction Accelerator Program, which allocates $8.6 billion to build or renovate more than 130 schools throughout the province.
"Fast-tracking school projects cuts months off the timelines and moves them that much closer to opening their doors for students," stated Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides. "Families in Calgary and St. Albert will see new classrooms sooner because we're speeding up the work."
Calgary Projects Receiving Priority
The Calgary-based schools benefiting from this acceleration include:
- A francophone high school in Panorama Hills serving grades 10 to 12
- A K-9 francophone Catholic school in the Hamptons neighborhood
- A modernization project for the Foundations for the Future Charter Academy in Quarry Park
Both francophone institutions will be operated by Le Conseil scolaire FrancoSud, southern Alberta's francophone school board. Gregory van Duyse, board chair of FrancoSud, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, "This represents a significant step toward addressing the needs of francophone families by improving access to modern and comparable educational infrastructure."
Program Impact and Historical Context
This announcement marks the fifth batch of school accelerations since the program's inception in 2024. According to provincial data, the School Construction Accelerator Program has already demonstrated impressive results in its first year, fast-tracking 45 new school projects and approvals for 38 others.
The program has advanced work on some school projects by up to nine-and-a-half months, with one case seeing acceleration of more than a year. Since the program's announcement, nine new or modernized schools have opened to students, creating or updating nearly 6,000 student spaces across Alberta.
Broader Infrastructure Goals
Infrastructure Minister Martin Long highlighted the government's commitment to educational infrastructure, stating, "We're reducing delays and accelerating construction so students can learn in modern classrooms sooner. By fast-tracking these projects, we're turning plans into progress and delivering the schools growing communities urgently need."
Currently, more than 120 school projects are underway across Alberta, with additional investments expected to be announced in the upcoming 2026 provincial budget on February 26. The charter academy modernization in Quarry Park, adjacent to the Remington YMCA, will specifically advance from the design phase directly into construction, serving students in grades 9 to 12.
The provincial government implemented the School Construction Accelerator Program specifically to streamline and expedite the school construction process, addressing growing community needs while ensuring students have access to modern, well-equipped educational facilities. This latest funding announcement continues Alberta's commitment to educational infrastructure development across the province.
