North Leslie is a rapidly emerging neighbourhood in Richmond Hill, home to hundreds of young families with young children. We settled here expecting a neighbourhood elementary school for safe, walkable education and strong community connections, rather than long bus rides to holding schools.

It is urgent that the planning and construction of North Leslie East Elementary School proceed with a target opening in 2029 .

The North Leslie East ES was originally identified for a proposed opening in 2029 based on the 2024-2025 Capital Priorities Program (CPP) Submission List.

https://www2.yrdsb.ca/sites/default/files/2025-09/BoardReport-2024-25-Capital-Priorities-Program-11June2024.pdf

However, this has been deferred to the "Emerging Project Areas : Potential in 5-10 years"

https://www2.yrdsb.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Board-Report-2025-26-Capital-Priorities-Program-29Sept2025.pdf

 This school is not just a building — it is a cornerstone for our growing community. It will provide our children with a safe, accessible place for learning close to home.

As new homes continue to be built under the North Leslie Secondary Plan, the need for local school capacity is growing. Currently, many children from the North Leslie East area are directed to Victoria Square Public School as their holding school, resulting in longer travel times that reduce family time, rest, and opportunities for extracurricular activities.

Neighbourhood schools play a vital role in building community. They make it easier for parents to stay involved, help children form local friendships, and turn a new development into a true neighbourhood.

We urge the York Region District School Board to reinstate North Leslie East Elementary School (originally proposed with a capacity of approximately 638 pupil places) to the near-term Capital Priorities list with a 2029 opening date and to prioritize it in funding requests to the Ministry of Education.

Please sign this petition to call on the York Region District School Board to restore and expedite the development of North Leslie East Elementary School for the benefit of our children and community.

We will be sending this letter to YRDSB in support of North Leslie East Elementary School:

Dear Director Cober, Trustee Kolosowski, and Trustee Liang,

We, the residents and families of the North Leslie East community in Richmond Hill, are writing to request that the York Region District School Board reinstate North Leslie East Elementary School as a near-term capital priority with a proposed opening in 2029.

In the 2024-2025 Capital Priorities Program (June 2024), North Leslie East Elementary School was formally included in the submission list to the Ministry of Education as a growth-related project with an approximate capacity of 638 pupil places and a target opening date of 2029. However, in the 2025-2026 Capital Priorities Program (September 2025), the project was moved to the “Emerging Project Areas (5–10 years)” list with no defined timeline or capacity. This change has created significant concern in our community.

North Leslie East is a rapidly emerging neighbourhood with hundreds of young families who have recently moved into new homes. Many of us have young children and chose this area expecting a walkable neighbourhood elementary school. A dedicated local school is urgently needed to provide safe, community-based education and to keep pace with the ongoing residential growth in the North Leslie Secondary Plan area.

We respectfully urge you to restore North Leslie East Elementary School to the active Capital Priorities Submission List with the original 2029 proposed opening date and to prioritize it in the Board’s funding request to the Ministry of Education.

Thank you for your leadership on this important matter and for your commitment to addressing the accommodation needs of growing communities in York Region. 

Update: As of June 4, 2026, the e-mail for this petition has been sent to YRDSB with over 150 signatures. Please continue to share and raise awareness.

*Do NOT provide any donations*