Shelburne, Ontario

a new school about six years ago and adding a childcare facility at Centennial Hylands Elementary School. Extensive expansion to the residential sector is in progress, and the growing demand for housing isn’t letting up. Every time a new project opens up for sale, it sells fairly quickly. The largest housing development currently in progress, Fieldgate Homes’ Emerald Crossing, is situated next to Tim Hortons Plaza on the northeast corner of Highway 89 and County Road 124. Residents can soon relocate to the property’s 257 single detached and townhouse units, and a future block of medium-density homes, and enjoy a large commercial development within it on the east side. The west side of town will welcome two new residential developments. The Tribute Communities subdivision adds 245 units many of which are now built and occupied and the remainder under construction, and two new Shelburne. To build its workforce, Shelburne council got creative. The lack of post-secondary facilities in town posed a challenge, but the group began talks for work placement opportunities for high school students. However, that was placed on the backburner when COVID-19 reached Ontario. Steve Wever, Shelburne Town Planner and Senior Planner of GSP Group, explains, “Employers weren’t positioned to be bringing additional people into their facilities for training purposes during that period, but I think that will be something that will come back to greater focus when this is behind us.” As the population and workforce grows, so does the need to expand several other aspects of the community, including its school system, childcare facilities, housing, and infrastructure. In that regard, capacity in the school system was ramped up and childcare facilities operated by Upper Grand District School Board by building