Halton District School Board launches new regional sports program – Academy for Athletic Performance & Excellence

Sept. 10, 2026 - The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is excited to announce a brand-new regional sports program launching in September 2027, the Academy for Athletic Performance and Excellence (APEX). The program will be housed at the HDSB’s new Oakville Secondary School, located at 4020 Sixth Line in Oakville. APEX is open to all eligible secondary students across Ontario.

APEX is designed to provide an integrated academic and athletic pathway for competitive student-athletes, particularly those competing at provincial or national levels. The program prepares students for post-secondary opportunities and careers in the $30-billion Canadian sports industry by embedding sport science, performance technology and data analytics directly into the curriculum. Students will have access to premier athletic facilities at the new campus, featuring three gymnasiums, a fitness/weight room, a practice field and a domed turf field.

To help families and prospective students learn more about the APEX program and tour information for the new Oakville school, two upcoming events are scheduled:

• HDSB Secondary School Open House: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Craig Kielburger Secondary School (Milton). Representatives will be available to answer questions regarding the new Oakville school and APEX.

• APEX Virtual Livestream: Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, offering an online information session for prospective students and families to explore program details virtually. The link to join the livestream will be posted on the APEX webpage by mid-October. 

Applications for the inaugural 2027 program for Gr. 9 & 10 students open on Oct. 30, 2026. Interested students and families across Ontario can learn more and submit applications directly online by visiting the HDSB APEX webpage.

Quotes

"We are thrilled to introduce the Academy for Athletic Performance and Excellence (APEX) to the Halton District School Board community," says Curtis Ennis, Chief Executive Officer for the HDSB. "The APEX program represents an extraordinary step forward in how we support student-athletes in our community. By pairing rigorous academics with specialized sport science and state-of-the-art facilities, we are opening dynamic new pathways that empower students to excel both in their sport and in their future academic and professional careers." 

HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan

The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.

Background resources

The Academy of Athletic Performance and Excellence

HDSB New Oakville Secondary School

HDSB Secondary School Open House

@HaltonDistrictSchoolBoard | @HDSBschools | @HaltonDSB | @HDSB | hdsb.ca

For additional information, contact: Naz Kittani, Senior Marketing Officer

communications@hdsb.ca  |  905-335-3663, Toll free: 1-877-618-3456