A new community campus in Stratford, P.E.I., is making progress towards becoming a reality. However, the completion of the wellness center, a major component of the project, is still a few years away pending funding from provincial and federal sources. The development site, situated between the Stratford Business Park and the Bunbury Road, is abuzz with construction activity as crews work on converting around 170 acres of land into a vibrant sports and cultural hub for the town, located to the east of Charlottetown.
Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden expressed enthusiasm about the project, emphasizing its significance as the largest endeavor the town has ever embarked upon. The campus will feature the town’s inaugural high school, currently in the construction phase and slated to open its doors in the fall of 2027. Additionally, the campus will house six soccer fields, three baseball fields, and a cricket field.
Construction progress includes fencing around the ball diamonds, with plans to install lighting by late November or early December. Jeremy Pierce, the town’s director of recreation, culture, and events, mentioned that preparations for the upcoming spring season are underway, with arrangements being made for amenities like scoreboards and bleachers.
The much-anticipated wellness center, though still in the concept stage, holds potential as a major attraction once realized. Mayor Ogden disclosed that the project carries a price tag exceeding $60 million, with hopes pinned on securing funding from government sources in the near future. The envisioned facility would boast two ice surfaces, an indoor turf field, cultural spaces, and a youth center, subject to financial support.
The campus is also set to accommodate a new junior high school in the future, with funding already allocated in the provincial capital budget for 2025-2026. Other features of the evolving campus include a standalone pickleball facility being privately developed, reflecting the town’s growth trajectory as one of Prince Edward Island’s fastest-growing municipalities, expected to double its population of approximately 12,500 residents within the next decade.
