Seven Laval schoolyards to receive upgrades through provincial funding
Seven schools in Laval will benefit from more than $653,000 in provincial funding to improve their schoolyards as part of Quebec’s Schoolyard Improvement Program.
The announcement was made on July 6 by Laval-des-Rapides MNA Céline Haytayan on behalf of Education Minister Sonia LeBel. According to the Quebec government, the $653,056 investment will support projects designed to create more dynamic, accessible and engaging outdoor spaces for students.
Seven schools selected
The funding will support projects at six schools within the Centre de services scolaire de Laval and one school in the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board.
The selected projects include:
- École St-Paul (Building 1): Creation of a landscaped relaxation area and sports surface ($98,994).
- École Saint-Maxime: Development of a sports activity area and landscaped relaxation space ($98,989).
- École Pierre-Laporte: Construction of a playground, landscaped area and community garden ($98,988).
- École Sainte-Dorothée: Addition of an outdoor classroom, multi-purpose area and landscaped relaxation space ($98,988).
- École St-François: Development of sports activity areas, a relaxation space, safety improvements and new playground markings ($98,993).
- École Les Explorateurs: Construction of a playground, outdoor classroom and tree planting ($99,001).
- John F. Kennedy School: Redevelopment of the kindergarten schoolyard ($59,093).
According to the government, the projects will also include features such as playground equipment, urban furniture, green spaces, sports facilities, psychomotor courses and outdoor learning areas.
Supporting student well-being
Haytayan said schoolyards play an important role in students’ daily lives by providing opportunities to be physically active, socialize and learn outdoors.
“I am pleased to see our government investing to make these seven projects a reality in Laval schools. These new outdoor spaces will provide students with safer, more dynamic environments that support both their well-being and educational success,” she said in a statement.
LeBel added that well-designed schoolyards encourage physical activity, which contributes to students’ concentration and academic success.
Part of a province-wide investment
Across Quebec, the government is investing more than $24 million in 259 schoolyard improvement projects during the 2025-2026 school year.
According to the government, the Schoolyard Improvement Program is part of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan and helps school service centres and English-language school boards finance projects that encourage physical activity while improving safety in schoolyards.
The government also noted that more than $29 million had previously been announced in November 2024 to support 310 additional schoolyard improvement projects across the province.
