Plans to construct an elementary school in Stoney Creek have been canceled as per the Ministry of Education’s directive, citing ongoing concerns about unpleasant odors emanating from a nearby landfill. The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) announced the abandonment of the proposed school site at 399 First Rd. W.
Following inquiries about the decision’s link to the GFL facility, Emma Testani, press secretary for Ontario’s Education Minister Paul Caldera, acknowledged that the Minister is attentive to the community’s worries. Residents near the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility have been reporting noxious odors since 2023, described as “rotten fish-like,” “sulphuric,” and “chemical.”
Testani confirmed that the Minister instructed the HWDSB to seek an alternate location for the school. Intended to accommodate 650 students in Upper Stoney Creek, the new school would replace Tapleytown Elementary School, which currently serves fewer than 300 students.
Local resident Navdeep Sandhar expressed disappointment along with neighbors for the promise of the school’s establishment when they moved to the area. Despite attempts to contact Conservative MPP Donna Skelly, oversight of the GFL facility, responsible for the odors, falls under provincial jurisdiction.
Skelly highlighted the efforts of her team and local officials in addressing residents’ complaints, resulting in penalties imposed on GFL. She emphasized that while odors were intermittent and mild, they have impacted residents’ quality of life, especially during warm weather.
Sandhar, who moved to the area in 2021, noted a significant increase in odors from the GFL facility since 2023, describing it as chemical and unbearable. Efforts to resume school construction were paused in 2023 due to odor concerns, with plans reinitiated in 2024 and subsequently halted following the Ministry’s directive to find a new location.
Councillor Brad Clark proposed expediting the landfill closure process at a recent council meeting, emphasizing the Ministry’s disapproval of the school site and residents’ concerns about living near the landfill. Additionally, concerns about health effects from pollutants linked to sulphur prompted city staff to investigate potential risks for residents.