Town, SCDSB agree to swap land to facilitate new Banting high school relocation
Posted November 4, 2025
New Tecumseth and the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) will trade nearly equal amounts of land as the purchase price for 25 acres of the Sir Frederick Banting Homestead to accommodate a new Banting Memorial High School.
Council ratified the deal last night after rising from its in camera discussion on the matter. In exchange for 25 of the 100 acre homestead property, New Tecumseth will receive the exisiting school 12.7 acre site at 203 Victoria Street East, and the 13.6 acre GA Wright Field, at 251 Albert Street East. The monetary valuation reportedly was a common ground between agricultural and urban designation.
“The community has been promised a replacement for Banting High School for many years,” said Mayor Richard Norcross. “It is exciting that the Town could reach an agreement that sees a new high school for the community in a location that respects and can enhance the important legacy of Sir Fredrick Banting and his historic homestead.”
The arrangement is more than 10 years in the making as the Board and Town council had been unable to settle on the homestead as the preferred location to rebuild the now 75-year-old building. In 2022, the Ministry of Education allocated $41.4 million toward its construction.
“Staff and trustees advocated strongly for this project and are extremely pleased to receive approval from New Tecumseth Council to proceed with the build on the Banting Homestead property,” said Dawn Stephens, Director of Education. “This is incredibly positive news for families of the Town of New Tecumseth and signals the start of an exciting development in the community.”
The board has not settled on a specific timetable but the sides will begin work on the detailed Site Plan to establish a layout that respects the Banting Homestead and studies the traffic and infrastructure demands to minimize impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods. The School Board is also working with local Indigenous groups to ensure concerns, if any, are fully addressed, according to the Town.
“Board staff completed intensified due diligence with respect to site selection, exploring all opportunities in Alliston and surrounding areas,” said Corry Van Nispen, Superintendent of Business and Facility Services. “The Banting Homestead and Heritage Park property is the ideal location as it meets key considerations for the project and offers unique benefits not possible elsewhere in the municipality. We look forward to working with New Tecumseth town staff to advance this project."
