THOROLD – The Ontario government is making a significant investment in public safety with a new $180 million commitment to expand correctional facilities across the province. The move will add 150 new beds to three locations — Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold, the Cecil Facer Youth Centre in Sudbury, and the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton — through modular construction expected to begin in 2026.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the investment is part of the province’s ongoing effort to “keep dangerous and repeat offenders off our streets” while modernizing correctional infrastructure and expanding capacity.
“By expanding correctional facilities and bringing new beds online faster, we are strengthening our ability to hold criminals accountable and ensure that inmates serve their sentences in secure, modern spaces,” said Kerzner.
Modular Construction Approach
Bird Construction Inc. has been awarded the contract to design and build the expansions, using a modular method that will allow facilities to be brought online faster than traditional construction. The projects will also enhance rehabilitation offerings, including programming focused on literacy, job skills, and digital training — key components aimed at reducing recidivism.
Supporting Communities in Thorold, Sudbury, and Milton
The Niagara Detention Centre will see increased capacity that local MPP Sam Oosterhoff says will directly benefit his region:
“This expansion will help improve public safety in Niagara and provide frontline correctional staff with a safe, secure and modern workplace,” said Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
In Sudbury, the Cecil Facer Youth Centre is set for a longer-term transition. By 2028, the centre will be repurposed into an adult correctional facility to meet rising demand and support northern Ontario’s infrastructure needs.
Ontario’s Broader Correctional Strategy
This announcement builds on other recent corrections investments by the province, including the addition of 110 new beds since 2024 and plans to add a total of 665 by the end of 2026.
Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma highlighted the importance of innovative procurement in delivering essential public safety infrastructure:
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are delivering on our more than $200 billion plan to build the infrastructure our province needs to support strong and safe communities,” said Surma.
Bird Construction President and CEO Teri McKibbon welcomed the continued partnership with the province:
“We look forward to leveraging our proven experience in delivering priority infrastructure, integrating innovation with conventional on-site construction,” McKibbon said.
As Ontario expands and modernizes its correctional system, the government says it remains focused on balancing enforcement with rehabilitation to protect communities while supporting inmate reintegration.
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