I’ve spotted a school bus from my window this morning, a reminder that across Ontario, where our children spend around 1,400 hours each year, the quality of their learning environment matters deeply. The recent announcement that a majority of schools in the Simcoe region have earned “gold” recognition for their healthy environments comes as welcome news to parents and educators alike.
The Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition has awarded this prestigious designation to schools demonstrating exceptional commitment to creating spaces where students can thrive physically and mentally. According to local health officials, 68% of schools in the Simcoe Muskoka District School Board received gold certification this year, up from 61% last year.
“When we invest in healthy school environments, we’re investing directly in our children’s future,” says Dr. Carolyn Bennett, pediatrician and community health advocate. “These spaces shape not just their education but their lifelong habits and wellbeing.”
The certification evaluates several key factors: indoor air quality, access to physical activity spaces, nutritional programs, and mental health supports. Schools earning gold status have implemented comprehensive strategies across all these areas, often through innovative community partnerships.
At Harriett Todd Public School in Orillia, principal Samantha Chartrand points to their newly renovated gymnasium and outdoor learning space as catalysts for their gold recognition. “We’ve seen attendance improve and behavior incidents decrease since making these environmental improvements,” she notes. “Children simply learn better when they feel good in their space.”
The Ministry of Education allocated $87.6 million last fiscal year toward school environment improvements across the province. These funds supported everything from HVAC upgrades to outdoor classroom development. Public health data shows these investments correlate with measurable improvements in student health outcomes, including decreased respiratory complaints and improved concentration.
Parent council member and mother of three, Jennifer Kingston, has witnessed the transformation at her children’s school firsthand. “The difference is remarkable. My youngest used to come home with headaches regularly. Since the ventilation upgrades and new water bottle filling stations were installed, those complaints have disappeared.”
Not all schools have reached gold status, however. Approximately 22% of schools in the region received silver designation, while 10% earned bronze. The coalition has identified resource disparities between urban and rural schools as a continuing challenge.
Public health nurse Denise Wojcik, who coordinates the certification program, emphasizes that the goal isn’t competition but continuous improvement. “Every step a school takes toward creating healthier spaces matters. We celebrate progress at all levels because we know these changes don’t happen overnight.”
The criteria for certification have evolved since the program began in 2018. Initially focused primarily on physical infrastructure, the standards now place greater emphasis on inclusive spaces, mental health resources, and cultural safety for Indigenous students.
School boards across Ontario have embraced these expanded criteria. A recent survey by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association found that 76% of boards have dedicated funding specifically for healthy environment initiatives in their annual budgets, up from just 42% five years ago.
“This isn’t just about checking boxes,” explains Michael Warren, superintendent of facilities for the Simcoe board. “It’s about creating spaces where students feel safe, energized, and ready to learn. The research clearly shows environment impacts educational outcomes.”
Indeed, a 2022 study from Queen’s University found that students in schools with high environmental health ratings scored an average of 11% higher on standardized tests compared to peers in lower-rated facilities.
The benefits extend beyond academics. School nurse Pamela Higgins has tracked a 23% reduction in absenteeism at Orillia Secondary School since they implemented their comprehensive indoor air quality program three years ago.
“We sometimes forget how connected physical spaces are to our wellbeing,” Higgins says. “When we improved ventilation and added more natural light, we saw fewer students in my office with headaches, fatigue, and stress-related complaints.”
Community partnerships have played a crucial role in many schools’ success. The Georgian Bay Food Co-op now supplies fresh produce to 14 schools in the region, while the YMCA offers after-hours recreation programming in school gymnasiums.
As Ontario faces ongoing budget considerations, advocates stress the importance of maintaining momentum on healthy school environments. The Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations recently presented a petition with over 12,000 signatures to the provincial legislature, calling for dedicated funding to ensure all schools can reach gold certification within five years.
For now, educators celebrate the progress while acknowledging the work ahead. As children file into classrooms across the province each morning, the environments greeting them vary widely. But the growing recognition that these spaces fundamentally matter represents a significant shift in how we view education—one that places wellbeing at the center of learning.
After all, as one gold-certified school proudly displays on its entrance: “Healthy spaces grow healthy minds.” It’s a simple truth that’s increasingly backed by both science and experience.
