Ontario Protecting Communities by Expanding Correctional Facilities
July 18, 2025
Province adding 150 beds through new modular builds
July 17, 2025
Solicitor General
Table of Contents
- Content
- Quick Facts
- Quotes
- Additional Resources
- Related Topics
THOROLD — As part of its plan to protect Ontario and keep communities safe, the Ontario government is investing more than $180 million to increase capacity at correctional facilities across the province. The Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold, the Cecil Facer Youth Centre in Sudbury and the Vanier Centre for Women in Milton will be expanded to create 150 new beds and give frontline staff the space they need to do their jobs safely.
“Our government is taking decisive action to protect Ontario and keep dangerous and repeat offenders off our streets,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “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.”
Bird Construction Inc. has been awarded the contract to design and build the innovative modular expansions, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026. In addition to new beds, the expanded facilities will offer enhanced rehabilitation programs, including literacy, job skills and technology training.
Quick Facts
- Since 2024, 110 additional beds have been added to adult correctional facilities across the province, with 665 more to be added by the end of 2026.
- The modular build facilities are delivered through Infrastructure Ontario which aims to deliver projects more efficiently using accelerated procurement processes and modular construction methods.
- Similar infrastructure expansion projects at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre and Kenora Jail were completed in Fall 2022.
- By 2028, the Cecil Facer Youth Centre in Sudbury will be repurposed into an adult correctional facility to provide additional capacity and programming in northern Ontario.
Quotes
“Ontario is modernizing its procurement processes and using innovative construction methods to help speed up the delivery of essential infrastructure. By expanding correctional facilities in Thorold, Sudbury and Milton, our government is enhancing the safety, capacity and sustainability of the province’s correctional system. 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, keep workers on the job and drive economic growth.”
– Kinga Surma
Minister of Infrastructure
“This significant investment in public safety – including plans to increase correctional capacity at the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold – is another example of how our government is protecting communities and protecting Ontario. This expansion will help improve public safety in Niagara and provide frontline correctional staff with a safe, secure and modern workplace.”
– Sam Oosterhoff
MPP for Niagara West
“We are pleased to once again work with the Ontario government, supporting its investments to increase correctional capacity and transform correctional services. Building on our previous work in Kenora and Thunder Bay, we look forward to leveraging our proven experience in delivering priority infrastructure, integrating innovation with conventional on-site construction, and maintaining our high standards of execution.”
– Teri McKibbon
President and CEO, Bird Construction
Additional Resources
Infrastructure Ontario Contract Award Announcement
Niagara Detention Centre Expansion Project Page
Cecil Facer Youth Centre Expansion Project Page
Vanier Centre for Women Expansion Project Page