Holy Trinity Academy Updates

Construction Begins June 9th - Update and Safety Notes

St. FX Construction Safety Notes for Families

We are thrilled to announce that the construction contract for Holy Trinity Academy has been awarded to Lear Construction. Following the tender phase in early 2025, the contract was awarded by Alberta Infrastructure in April 2025. Click here to read the full division announcement!

The ground blessing and sod turning ceremony held on May 29th marked the official start of the project and we are now moving ahead quickly with an official start date of June 9th.

To ensure the safety of all students, staff, and visitors as we enter the construction phase, please take note of the following important safety guidelines:

1. Restricted Areas

Construction zones will be clearly marked and fenced off beginning on June 9.
No unauthorized access to the construction area is permitted at any time.
Students will be reminded regularly to stay away from these zones.

2. Drop-Off and Pick-Up Adjustments

Please follow updated signage and school communications.
Traffic flow changes may occur as construction progresses.
Designated safe drop-off and pick-up zones will be communicated as needed.
Allow extra time for arrival and dismissal during the first days of construction.

3. Staggered Recess and Increased Supervision

As discussed earlier this year, we will now begin to use a staggered recess approach.
Staff will provide extra supervision in outdoor areas near construction fencing.
Students will be guided to use alternate routes if necessary to avoid construction zones.

4. Noise and Activity

Students can expect periods of increased noise and activity during the school day.
Construction work will be scheduled to minimize disruption to learning whenever possible.

6. Emergency Preparedness

Emergency procedures have been reviewed and adjusted to accommodate construction.
In the event of an emergency, students will be directed safely away from the construction area.

7. Communication Updates

All construction updates will be shared on the Holy Trinity Academy Updates page on our school website, newsletter, and through the principal’s weekly email when applicable.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the school office directly.

Welcome to the Holy Trinity Academy Project Updates page

We are excited to share the progress of our new school building and to keep our St. Francis Xavier School community informed every step of the way.

On this page, you’ll find the latest updates on construction progress, projected timelines, and important notices that ensure families continue to stay informed.

Holy Trinity Academy is designed to be a beacon of learning, faith, and community—built with your support, understanding, and vision for the future of our students.

Project background: Construction funding for Holy Trinity Academy was approved by the Government of Alberta in March of 2024. The project design phase is now complete and the project is moving to the tender phase. The groundbreaking is anticipated for Spring 2025.

Holy Trinity Academy Project Awarded to Lear Construction - June 2025

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education is excited to announce that the construction contract for our new Holy Trinity Academy has been awarded to Lear Construction. Following the tender phase in early 2025, the contract was awarded by Alberta Infrastructure in April 2025.

With full provincial funding approved in March 2024, we are now moving ahead quickly. A ground blessing and sod turning ceremony was held on May 29th to mark the official start of the project. Construction will commence in early June and is on track for completion in 2027.

Project Scope and Design Features

Holy Trinity Academy will be a modern K–9 Catholic school designed with an array of state-of-the-art spaces. Key features include:

Two full-size gymnasiums
A large performing-arts theatre (387 seats)
Specialized classrooms and labs for music, visual arts, dance, culinary arts, woodworking, science, and technology.
A spacious and flexible learning commons
Exceptional accessibility throughout the building including: accessible washrooms, sensory rooms, and an inclusive playground.

This design (created by FWBA Architects) emphasizes flexibility and inclusion, ensuring the new school will provide a dynamic, engaging environment for all learners. The facility will replace three older Catholic schools, accommodating the combined student population under one roof.

About Lear Construction

Lear Construction is a Calgary based company, established in 1976.

Their dedication to quality and client satisfaction has earned them lasting partnerships and the trust of those they serve. Lear Construction takes pride in the positive contributions their work makes to communities and remains committed to providing exceptional service well into the future.

The large portfolio of completed projects showcases the high-quality services they provide. https://learconstruction.com/projects/

Planning and Community Support

Holy Trinity Academy has been in the works for several years. In 2022 the Board revised its capital plan to request a new K–9 Catholic school in Medicine Hat (with a theatre and expanded gym space). Alberta Education approved design funding in early 2023, and the Board conducted extensive design work throughout 2023–24. The province’s spring 2024 budget confirmed full construction funding, and the project moved into the tendering stage by late 2024.

Locally, the Board has also committed additional funds – for example, trustees voted in February 2024 to contribute $2.7 million toward enlarging the gym area to accommodate two full-size gymnasiums. This project has broad support from the government, the school board and our community.

With design features driven by student needs and decades of community input, Holy Trinity Academy will serve students, families and staff in Medicine Hat for generations to come.

Construction Timeline and Next Steps

The construction phase is expected to be around 22 months in total. Work is scheduled so that the building’s interim occupancy occurs in February 2027 (allowing St. Francis Xavier School to continue operating until then) and all site work is complete by August 2027.

MHCBE will continue to share regular updates on progress through our website and social media. Stakeholders are encouraged to explore the project FAQs and watch for information about the building’s programs and features.

Together, we look forward to the day when students walk into the bright new halls of Holy Trinity Academy, confident in our faith-filled future and the strong foundation we’ve built – both literally and figuratively!

Official Ground Blessing & Sod Turning - May 29, 2025

On May 29, The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education gathered with students, staff, community members, and dignitaries on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier School to mark a significant milestone in the life of Catholic education in our city: the official ground blessing and sod turning ceremony for Holy Trinity Academy.

Led by Fr. Roque and Fr. Iqbal, the ground was blessed with prayer, holy water, and hope for the future of this sacred ground.

Adding to the significance of the day, the ceremony coincided with World Catholic Education Day—a global celebration of the gift of Catholic education. To mark the occasion, attendees wore blue as a visible sign of unity and support for Catholic schools around the world. The sea of blue throughout the crowd served as a powerful reminder of our shared mission and the strength of our faith-filled community.

Board Chair, Mrs. Kathy Glasgo, shared reflections on the journey that led to this moment, expressing gratitude to the Alberta Government for funding support, and to all partners, planners, and families who helped bring this vision to life. “This all started as a dream... an idea,” Glasgo said. “To build a theatre for all to enjoy, and to honour The Sisters of Charity of St. Louis, the ones who brought Catholic education to Medicine Hat in 1911.”

Representatives from Alberta Infrastructure, City Council, FWBA Architects, school division leadership, and local parishes joined in the celebration, alongside parishioners, St. Mary's School choir, St. Michael's School choir, and the St. Francis Xavier student body, who proudly had a front-row seat to witness this historic moment.

As construction begins, the excitement is growing—not only for a new building but for the many opportunities this new facility will bring to our community.

We give thanks for this moment and for the gift of Catholic education, and we look forward to watching the project take shape in the coming months.

Construction Update - March 28, 2025

March 28, 2025

As we prepare for groundbreaking this spring, we want to ensure that our students continue to have safe and engaging outdoor spaces for recess and physical activity. While construction is underway, we have designated specific areas for recess and outdoor activities, which are outlined on the map shown here.

To prioritize student safety while maintaining daily physical activity, we will be implementing staggered recess times based on grade levels. Groups will include K-3 and 4-6. This approach is successfully used in other schools within our division to reduce congestion in outdoor spaces, ensuring that all students have room to play and be active!

Overview

Construction starter date: The date for construction to begin has not yet been determined, once the project tender has been awarded (see tender update here), we will work directly with the designated construction company to get a better idea of the construction timeline.
Recess Schedule Update: Once the recess schedule has been finalized it will be shared with families before it is fully implemented.
Designated Play Zones: Students will have access to assigned areas for outdoor activities, as shown on the map. Construction areas will be clearly marked and restricted for safety.
Playground removal and recess alternatives: At this time we do not have an official date for the removal of the playground. The playground will need to be removed before construction can begin. We are working on a plan for alternative activities during recess once the playground is no longer accessible. The plan will be shared promptly with staff, students, and families as soon as it is finalized.
Supervision: Staff will continue to supervise all outdoor activities to ensure student safety.

All HTA updates will continue to be shared with staff and families promptly. The Holy Trinity Academy Project Updates Page on our school website will continue to be updated with information regularly. We appreciate your support and cooperation as we navigate the next (exciting) phase of the construction of Holy Trinity Academy!

February 2025 - Moving to Tender Phase

The Holy Trinity Academy project has officially reached a major milestone—the tender phase is now open!

Posted on February 17, 2025, and closing on April 3, 2025, this marks the next step toward bringing our vision to life. With contract signing expected in early April, we’re gearing up for an exciting groundbreaking this spring, officially launching the construction phase. The countdown is on for Interim Acceptance in February 2027 and the completion of site work by August 2027—our new school is on the way!

November 4, 2024 - Playground Construction Update

November 4, 2024

Dear St. Francis Xavier School Families,

I am reaching out about an important development related to the construction of Holy Trinity Academy, which will have a direct impact on St. Francis Xavier School. Many of you are aware that as part of the project preparations, the current playground at St. Francis Xavier School will be removed to make way for construction.

As this change will have a significant impact on staff and students, I want to personally address the most recent timeline of the removal and construction. The new school project is set to break ground this spring. This means that the current school playground will remain in place until the spring of 2025.

We understand that playgrounds are an essential part of the school experience, especially for our students' physical and social development. Therefore, we want to assure you that the division and school are working closely together to create alternative options for recess and outdoor activities once the playground has been removed. Our priority is to ensure that all students have safe, engaging spaces for play until the new school is complete.

We are committed to keeping St. FX staff and families informed as the project progresses and will continue to provide updates on construction timelines and impacts on school routines as information is made available. I want to thank staff, families, and students for the continued patience and ongoing support as we work towards the building of an incredible new school for our community.

All Holy Trinity Academy updates directly related to your school can now be accessed on the St. Francis Xavier School website www.stfrancisxavierschool.ca/updates.

Warm regards,

Dr. Dwayne Zarichny
Superintendent of Schools
Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education

Click here to view the letter - PDF

October 16, 2024 - Open House Review/Project Update

We are one step closer to welcoming students into the vibrant new learning spaces of Holy Trinity Academy.

On Wednesday, October 16, the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education and FWBA Architects hosted a design open house for the new school project, allowing staff, students, families and our community a first look at the school’s plans and design. This event featured virtual tours and an in-person viewing of the architectural plans, giving attendees a clear vision of the innovative and engaging spaces Holy Trinity Academy will offer.

The project has now moved into the tender phase, with contractors preparing their bids for Alberta Education. Groundbreaking for the new school is anticipated to take place in the spring of 2025. This milestone marks significant progress towards building a school that will provide a nurturing and dynamic environment for students from early learning through grade 9.

Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and continues to share in the excitement — we’re eager to keep the momentum going and watch this vision move from blueprint to reality!

Photos from the open house
Open house stirs excitement for new Catholic school - Medicine Hat News
Open house and virtual tour planned for new Catholic school - Medicine Hat News

September 2024 - School Design Complete

We are thrilled to share exciting updates regarding the new school project! The design for Holy Trinity Academy is officially complete and the project is moving to the tender phase this fall.

FWBA Architects and the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education invite all stakeholders to join us for the first public unveiling of Medicine Hat’s newest Catholic school. Community members, families, and division staff are warmly invited to attend this immersive open house event.

Date: October 16, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: St. Francis Xavier School Gymnasium

What to expect:

Exclusive first look at the building design
Information on the diverse range of programming spaces
Virtual tour of the new facility
Opportunity to meet the architect and design team

We look forward to seeing you there!

March 11, 2024 - Construction Funding Approved

March 11, 2024

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education is thrilled to announce that our school division has been officially granted full construction funding for a K-9 school in the Government of Alberta’s New schools in Alberta’s growing communities announcement yesterday afternoon.

The funding approval marks a significant milestone in our journey towards our goal of building a new, state of the art Catholic school, that will be known as Holy Trinity Academy. Holy Trinity Academy will combine three of our current schools; St. Francis Xavier, St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s into one school community, located on the current St. Francis Xavier school site (318 - 8th Street NE) adjacent to Monsignor McCoy High School.

The highly anticipated K-9 school will support students from Early Learning to grade 9, with a well established fine arts program, as well as wellness/multisport academy. The school will be equipped with a 400 seat theatre, accessible to all division schools and community organizations as well as two full sized gymnasiums, a beautiful sacred space, a physical literacy space, CTS suite, sensory and wellness rooms as well as many other classrooms and learning spaces.

The Board of Trustees is eager to move forward with this project now that funding has been approved and is committed to regular communication with staff, students and community stakeholders regarding the new school project.

December 12, 2023 - Naming the new school

In November, a school naming committee was formed to discuss potential name options for the new school. The goal of the committee was to bring all feedback to the group and to select one option to propose to the Board for approval at the next public board meeting.

On Tuesday, December 13, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved the proposed name for the new school project. The new school,l located on the current St. Francis Xavier school site (318 - 8th Street N.E.), will be named Holy Trinity Academy.

The name was chosen for a variety of reasons, the primary reason being the symbolism of three schools (St. Mary’s, St. Michael’s and St. Francis Xavier) joining together as one; as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one. The word “Academy” was chosen to represent the academy programming: St. FX Sports Academy, St. Michael’s Fine Arts focus and St. Mary’s Fine Arts Academy that will be transitioning to the new school building upon completion.

The Board of Trustees, Senior Administration and School Administrators are pleased with the thoughtful naming decision, and look forward to watching three schools come together as one!

Holy Trinity Academy updates can be found on our division website. As the project progresses more information will be shared!

School Naming Process:

When new schools are being built families and community members wonder what the name of the new school in their community will be and how that name is chosen. At the MHCBE, the naming of a new school or a change in the name of an existing school is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees.

To select a school name, the Board of Trustees will organize a school naming committee. The committee will then recommend a name for the school to the Board of Trustees for approval.

October 17, 2023 - New School Visioning Meeting

Stakeholders are invited to join The Board of Trustees and Senior Administration for a “New School Visioning Meeting” on Tuesday, October 17.

This meeting is an opportunity for staff, families and community members to share input regarding spaces in our newest Catholic school! Alberta Infrastructure and FWBA Architects will also be in attendance.

The new school visioning meeting will focus on discussion points such as: