Public-private partnerships (P3s)

Overview

P3s offer centralized oversight of commercial, legal, and financial activities throughout construction and operation periods by:

• encouraging innovation, collaboration, and appropriate risk sharing with the private sector
• drawing on the expertise and strengths of both the public and private sectors
• maximizing Value for Money by considering the life cycle of the project
• enhancing the ability to deliver projects on time and on budget

The Public-Private Partnership Framework and Guideline, updated in December 2020, increases our options as to what P3 model can be considered for capital project delivery, including variants such as design-build-finance, design-build-finance and maintain, and revenue based P3s, such as build-operate-transfer.

P3s in procurement phase

Bundle of 6 schools

• Procurement is underway on a new bundle of 6 Alberta schools.
• A contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in early 2026 with construction set to begin thereafter.
• The P3 bundle of 6 schools include:
  • new K-8 School in Airdrie’s Bayview community, Rocky View Schools
  • new K-4 School in Calgary’s Evanston community, Calgary Public School Division
  • new K-8 School in Cochrane, Rocky View Schools
  • new K-9 School in Edmonton’s Crystallina Nera East community, Edmonton Catholic School Division
  • new K-9 School in Edmonton’s Hays Ridge community, Edmonton Catholic School Division
  • new K-9 School in Edmonton’s Heritage Valley community, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Bundle of 7 schools

• Procurement is underway on a new bundle of 7 Alberta schools.
• A contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in June 2026 with construction set to begin thereafter.
• The P3 bundle of 7 schools include:
  • new K-6 School in Edmonton’s Glenridding Heights community, Edmonton Public School Division
  • new K-9 School in Edmonton’s Laurel community, Edmonton Catholic School Division
  • new 7-9 School in Edmonton’s McConachie Pilot Sound community, Edmonton Public School Division
  • new K-9 School in Edmonton’s River’s Edge community, Edmonton Catholic School Division
  • new K-6 School in Calgary’s Redstone community, Calgary Catholic School Division
  • new K-5 School in Calgary’s Redstone community, Calgary Public School Division
  • new K-9 School in Chestermere, Rocky View School Division

Bundle of 2 facilities – Northern/Southern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centres

• Procurement is underway on a new bundle of 2 Compassionate Intervention Centers.
• A contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in August 2026 with construction set to begin thereafter.
• The P3 bundle of 2 Compassionate Intervention Centers include:
  • The Northern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre, located in northeast Edmonton
  • The Southern Alberta Compassionate Intervention Centre, located in northwest Calgary

Bundle of 3 schools

• Procurement is underway on a new bundle of 3 Alberta schools.
• A contract with the successful proponent is anticipated to be in place in October 2026 with construction set to begin thereafter.
• The P3 bundle of 3 schools include:
  • new 9-12 School in Airdrie, Rocky View School Division
  • new 10-12 School in Calgary’s Cornerstone community, Calgary School Division
  • new 10-12 School in Okotoks, Foothills School Division

P3s in construction phase

Bundle of 6 schools

• A new bundle of 6 Alberta schools is in the construction stage.
• Construction is expected to be complete in 2027.
• The P3 bundle of 6 schools include:
  • new K-8 school in Airdrie SW, Rocky View Schools
  • new K-5 school in Blackfalds, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
  • new K-9 school in Calgary’s Nolan Hill community, Calgary Catholic School District
  • new K-9 school in Chestermere, Calgary Catholic School District
  • new Grade 7-12 school in Edmonton’s Glenridding Heights community, Edmonton Public Schools
  • new K-9 school (replacement of K-6 École Good Shepherd) in Okotoks, Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools

In March 2025, we entered into an agreement with Ellis Don Infrastructure to design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) these 6 new schools. 

• The schools are anticipated to open in 2027.
• Ellis Don Infrastructure will maintain the schools until September 2057.

The respective school jurisdictions will own the schools, but we will monitor Ellis Don Infrastructure's performance throughout this period.

• Value for money report
• Request for Qualifications
• Request for Proposals
• DBFM agreement

Award winning P3s

Alberta is a pioneer of the P3 model. We have a successful and award-winning track record of delivering infrastructure using P3s. Alberta’s P3 model has been recognized nationally and internationally for innovation and excellence.

Most recently, in November 2024, Alberta received a Silver Award in the P3 Design & Construction category for its first ever high school P3 project from the CCPPP 2024 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s.

Our high school P3 also won 2 awards in 2022:

• October 2022: Best Education and Higher Education Project for the P3 Awards hosted by P3 Bulletin covering the Americas.
• November 2022: Gold Award for Project Development from the CCPPP 2022 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s. 

Alberta’s first P3 project to complete its operational period, the Evan-Thomas Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kananaskis won the Best Operational Project at the P3 Partnerships Bulletin awards in October 2024.