Calgary Catholic high school development controversial among some Aspen Woods residents

A new Catholic high school is moving forward in southwest Calgary, but not without opposition from some residents.

Calgary council approved a land use amendment in Aspen Woods for the Calgary Catholic School District's proposed school project, tentatively called West Calgary High School, on Tuesday.

The land in question contains expansive aspen forest and semi-native grasslands, providing natural spaces for residents to utilize as well as habitat for various species of wildlife.

The development is expected to remove the vast majority of forest area from the 20-acre site to make way for the school and open spaces, leaving behind approximately 10 per cent of trees.

Christina Wyllie, one of several residents to publicly oppose the project, told council that she recognizes "the potential need for additional school capacity" but doesn't agree with the location of the development.

"This space is not just vacant land," she said. "This is one of the few green spaces left in Aspen Woods."

She pointed to the abundance of wildlife found in the forest area, including various bird species as well as mammals such as deer, coyotes and moose.

"If we tore down these woods, we would be taking away their home and destroying a whole ecosystem," said Wyllie. "It is unfair to the animals in the area who are already starting to roam the streets more and more because we have taken away all of their natural spaces, and this is all they're left with."

Beyond wildlife, she said the natural space being converted to a school removes local opportunities for recreation.

"Families walk their dogs here," she said. "It's a space that supports physical and mental wellness and lets people connect with nature without having to leave the neighborhood."

She also pointed to the proximity of the development to three other schools currently within one kilometre of each other in the area: Calgary Academy, Webber Academy and Guardian Angel School.

"If any of you live nearby, have children attending these schools or have driven through the area during drop-off and pick-up times, you know it's a traffic nightmare," said Wyllie.

"Adding a fourth school regardless of access points would only worsen an already overburdened infrastructure."

Project will benefit community, says superintendent

Brad MacDonald, Calgary Catholic School District superintendent of support services, told council the school is necessary to accommodate increasing enrolment numbers and better support Catholic students.

"Students on the west side of Calgary are asked to commute about an hour each way to Saint Mary's High School, which is the Beltline downtown," he said.

According to the school district's data, its 13 high schools are projected to hit 106 per cent utilization next year.

West Calgary High School has a proposed capacity of 1,200 students and is expected to be ready in 2028, according to the Calgary Catholic School District.

The site is "one-of-a-kind," said MacDonald, adding that the development offers not only a school but 10 acres of publicly-accessibly open space and recreational facilities.

MacDonald said the school district underwent thorough community consultation regarding the project.

"We are being very intentional with our design, placing the building as far from existing residents as possible," said MacDonald.

To minimize the impact of traffic congestion in the community, part of the development proposal would offer direct access to 17 Ave S.W.

Schools are priority for municipal, provincial gov't

"We are bursting at the seams in schools," said Coun. Sonya Sharp, currently supporting Aspen Woods as one of three representatives of Ward 6 following the resignation of Coun. Richard Pootmans last year.

"I know there's some folks upset about the school going up in Aspen. It is a requirement at this point," she told CBC News. "You need to balance the needs of the community."

Sharp said she anticipates more conversations around the development of new schools in Calgary, including elementary and junior high schools.

"If we keep growing as we're going, it's just going to be popping up in more of the residential areas, and everyone's going to have to get comfortable with that," she said.

West Calgary High School is one of 11 school projects that the provincial government announced accelerated development funding for in May.

"There is a great need for a new Catholic high school in west Calgary, and through our innovative School Construction Accelerator Program this high school is one step closer to being complete," said Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides in a statement to CBC News.

"Being able to approve funding for a school project in year rather than waiting until the next provincial budget will dramatically increase the construction speed of schools," he said.

A total of 33 school projects have been approved for funding through the government's accelerated school construction funding program since its introduction in late 2024.

The program is backed by an investment of $8.6 billion for the construction and renovation of over 100 schools in Alberta, which is set to create 200,000 student spaces across the province by fall 2031.