Alberta’s push to sell its latest budget began in Calgary Friday, where the province announced 14 new school projects aimed at easing classroom crowding across the city.

The announcement was made at St. Francis High School, where Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Finance Minister Nate Horner were joined by leaders from both the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD).

Nicolaides said the new projects reflect the priorities submitted by local school boards and respond directly to Calgary’s rapid population growth. The province is projecting a 1.6 per cent increase in student enrollment this fall.

“The 14 projects we’ve just announced are brand‑new projects that are not currently on our capital plan, but as of today will be added to the plan,” Nicolaides said. “That brings the total number of school projects underway across the province to 161.”

The 14 projects include nine new CBE schools, three for the Catholic district, one francophone school, and an expansion at Alberta Classical Academy’s Currie campus. When completed, the new schools are expected to serve more than 12,000 students.

The CBE, which says 70 per cent of its schools are already over capacity, with high schools averaging 107 per cent utilization, called the additions urgently needed.

These projects come on top of 31 previously announced builds, bringing Calgary’s total number of active school projects to 45.

The newly announced project include:

Calgary Board of Education

Joane Cardinal‑Schubert High School addition — planning

New elementary school in Walden — design

New elementary in Carrington — planning

New elementary in Cityscape — planning

New elementary in Kincora/Sage Hill — planning

New elementary in Mahogany — planning

New K–9 school in Country Hills — planning

New middle school in Legacy — planning

Replacement school on former Kensington School site — planning

Calgary Catholic School District

New elementary/junior high in Cityscape — design

New elementary/junior high in Mahogany — planning

New high school in Ambleton — planning

Conseil scolaire FrancoSud

New Grade 7–9 public school — planning

Alberta Classical Academy

Currie Campus expansion — planning