A planned redevelopment of Oshawa’s former Ritson Public School will breathe new life into an aging community.
Located at 300 Ritson Road South, the school has been closed since 2012 and was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2019.
In 2022, the Region of Durham purchased the building from the Durham District School Board with the intent of turning the site into a mixed-use community featuring mixed-market rental housing.
“The project involves the regeneration of the existing school building so that it will become a community hub,” said Gary Muller, the director of affordable housing development and renewal at the Region of Durham.
Muller explained that the school is in rough shape. “There has been some deterioration within the building,” he said. “A lot of abatement work [asbestos removal] is needed.”
Several steps need to be taken before the space can be repurposed, including structural stabilization and remediation work. “The school is in need of a lot of help,” he said.
It is a far cry from when the school was first built in 1923.
Jill Passmore, the visitor experiences coordinator at the Oshawa Museum, explained that the school was part of Oshawa’s early education history.
“At the time Oshawa became a city, the population was 3,000 and there were eight elementary schools,” she said.
“The original construction company and architect of the school remain unknown,” she said, but added that its construction cost was $54,000. That is equivalent to about $950,000 today.
It was named after John Ritson, one of Oshawa’s first teachers, who once owned the land where the school stands.
In 1928, the school underwent its first expansion, adding six classrooms on the north side of the building, increasing capacity by 50 per cent.
“This addition was built by W.J. Trick, Oshawa’s first mayor,” Passmore said. The expansion cost just over $21,000 at the time, equivalent to more than $350,000 today.
Additional expansions followed in 1948 and 1975, but demographic shifts led to the school’s closure in 2012.
In 2019, the school was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act due to its cultural and historical significance. The school combines Modern Classicism and Neo-Gothic styles, which were common at the time. “Urban schools often blended these styles, with designs like Collegiate Gothic becoming popular,” Passmore said.
While the design isn’t as elaborate as others built in the area, it still offers distinct features such as a symmetrical east facade. The building also featured separate boys and girls entrances, with the boys entrance still visible on the north side. This was a common design back in the 1920s.
Today, the site sits vacant, enclosed by a yellow construction fence. The project is in the early planning stages. According to the latest report released on Feb. 12, 2025, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) will be sent out in the spring.
While the redevelopment offers an opportunity to address Oshawa’s growing housing needs, some local residents have voiced concerns.
Regan Turner, 29, has lived near the school for three years. He said he believes that growth is a good thing but is concerned about the level of safety in the neighbourhood once the project is completed. “I have two young kids. I’m not against [subsidized housing], but I don’t know if it’s the best choice,” he added, saying he and his wife have considered moving.
Regional councillor Rick Kerr emphasized the need for more housing options in Oshawa. “I’d like to see a range of housing [types],” he said. “We have a pretty long waiting list for people who want to get social-assisted housing.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Muller is optimistic about the project. “This is a game changer,” he said. “It is an opportunity to create a new, vibrant place within the city that is historically important [and] makes a real difference.”