PEIStratford’s new community campus is moving closer to reality, but one big-ticket item — the wellness centre — is still years away as the town continues to seek funding from both the provincial and federal governments.Officials say the campus will be a ‘game-changer’ for the townMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Oct 09, 2025 7:20 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago’This is going to be huge’: Work continues on new Stratford community campusThere is more to see every day at Stratford’s new community campus. Crews are building a new high school and tons of new sports fields. CBC’s Connor Lamont shows us the progress.A new community campus in Stratford, P.E.I., is moving closer to reality, but one big-ticket item — the wellness centre — is still years away as the town continues to seek funding from both the provincial and federal governments.The parcel of land located between the Stratford Business Park and the Bunbury Road is a busy site these days, as construction crews transform approximately 170 acres of land into what is intended to become the sport and cultural hub of the town, just east of Charlottetown.“This is going to be huge. This is the largest project the town has ever undertaken,” Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden told CBC News. The centrepiece is the town’s first high school, which is currently under construction and expected to open in fall 2027.The campus will also be home to six soccer fields, three baseball fields, and a cricket field. Fencing is being added to the ball diamonds on the Stratford community campus, with lighting expected to go up in late November or early December. (Connor Lamont/CBC)The ball diamonds now have fencing, and lighting is expected to be added in late November or early December, town officials said. “The cricket field, the soccer fields, the grass is growing quite well on those and over the course of the winter we’ll be in the process of ordering different amenities… scoreboards, bleachers, that sort of thing, to outfit the sites come spring,” said Jeremy Pierce, the town’s director of recreation, culture, and events and deputy chief administrative officer. The decision on when the fields will open to the public is expected to be made by early spring.“It’s going to be a mecca for all sports fans and all the sports enthusiasts,” Ogden said. “As well as [for] people who just want to walk, and there’s active transportation trails here.”Wellness centre still in concept phaseThe proposed wellness centre will eventually be another big draw — but there are no shovels in the ground for that project yet. Stratford Mayor Steve Ogden says the progress on the community campus is ‘an indication of a commitment of our council, of the staff, of the residents of Stratford toward building this facility for the benefit of this generation [and] future generations.’ (Connor Lamont/CBC)“We’ve got a design concept,” said Ogden. “It’s quite a large project. It’s probably over $60 million. But we’re hopeful [for] an announcement soon on federal and provincial funding.”The centre would include two ice surfaces, an indoor turf field, cultural space and a youth centre — all contingent on funding. “If we get that funding, we’ll move into the design process, construction process. So you’re probably looking at a bit of a three-year window for that,” Pierce said. ”We look forward to creating a game-changing facility for residents.” The wellness centre will be built across the street from the high school, which will accommodate upwards of 600 students from the area when it opens for the 2027-28 school year. The province says work on the school is going well, with electricity hooked up and all outside doors and windows installed. Stratford’s first high school is expected to open in time for the 2027-2028 school year. (Connor Lamont/CBC)There is also space for a new junior high school on the campus, which is expected to be built in the coming years. Funding for that project was included in the province’s 2025-2026 capital budget.The campus also includes a standalone pickleball facility, which is being built with private money by a company that bought two acres of land from the town. Home to about 12,500 residents, Stratford is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Prince Edward Island. Officials say the population is expected to double in the next 10 years.ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from Connor Lamont
From blueprint to building: Stratfords community campus taking shape
